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Renewable energy outperforms coal
in new official UK electricity statistics

T

he Government’s new annual energy
statistics show that renewable energy
sources are replacing coal as
mainstream technologies generating power
for British homes, offices and factories.
Today’s figures confirm that 25% of the
UK’s electricity was generated from
renewables last year – an increase of 29%
on 2014. Nearly half of this (48%) came from
wind power alone. 1 in 8 units of electricity
generated in the UK came from wind.
In comparison, coal generated 22% of
the country’s electricity – down from
30% in 2014.
RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive
Maf Smith said: “The Government took the

right decision when it announced the
phasing out of coal. Now we can see
renewable energy filling the gap, replacing
old technology with new. 2015 was the first
year that renewables outperformed coal.
“A quarter of Britain’s power is now
coming from wind, wave and tidal power
and other renewable energy sources.
Renewables are now part of our energy
mainstream, helping us modernise the way
we keep the lights on by building new
infrastructure for the generations to come”.
The contribution of offshore wind grew
by 30% in 2015, while onshore wind grew
by 23%. The Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy, which

published the figures, said this was due to
increases in capacity, load factors and higher
wind speeds.
The Government’s latest poll on the
public’s views on energy, the Public
Attitudes Tracking Survey, was also
published today. It showed that 76% of
people support renewable energy. 70% of
people also said renewable projects provide
economic benefits to the UK.
For further information, please contact:
Robert Norris, Head of Communications,
0207 901 3013 or 07969 229913

ompanies with onsite generation
should look to ‘offset’ any
exportable energy they produce
against the energy they purchase elsewhere
in order to improve their overall energy
portfolio returns.
This is the advice being provided by
EnDCo, an independent licensed electricity
supplier that provides business customers
with direct access to the wholesale
electricity markets. The company says that
six-figure annual savings can be achieved
for businesses with the right ratio of
electricity consumption to generation that
adopt the Offset Supply strategy, even at
exported power levels as low as 1.5
megawatts (MW).
Andy Rice, managing director of EnDCo
explains: “For companies that can
generate electricity, either at a single site
or at multiple locations, a strategy for
‘offsetting’ any surplus generated power
against the electricity consumption needed
at other geographically dispersed premises
can be a very attractive option. Furthermore,
using this approach companies with an
energy-generating plant in Scotland and an
energy-consuming operation in Cornwall
don’t need an extension lead connecting the
two locations to make this happen.’
An offsetting approach is one which
works best when a business operating at

EnDCo opens its Offset Supply service to new customers
with onsite energy generation capacity
multiple premises is in a position to meet
most of their electrical load from their
own generation sources, or even better
when that generation capacity exceeds
the consumption requirement. The
generation asset/s may be located at a
single site or dispersed over multiple
locations, but in either event the generated
power can be used to offset the
consumption at any number of other
power-consuming properties.
In these circumstances, EnDCo enters into
an agreement with the customer to allow all
of its consumption to be offset by its
own-generation. If there is any residual
generation after consumption needs are
met, this would be sold into the wholesale
market or conversely, if there is
insufficient generation to meet consumption
for any particular period, then additional
power would be purchased to make up
the shortfall.
The terms on which power is sold into,
or bought from, the market in the event of
a surplus/shortfall are open to negotiation,
but a typical approach would be to sell or
buy any known (forecast) surplus/shortfall

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

at prevailing market prices with any residual
requirement taken at the published System
Prices. Provision by the customer of accurate
forecasts (for example, on a week-ahead
basis) is a critical and integral part of the
agreed service package.
EnDCo is able to provide an offsetting
service to its customers because it is not
seeking to make a margin on either the
purchase or sale of electricity. EnDCo fees
are simply applied as a fixed monthly
charge, which is independent of the power
volumes imported or exported, although
this does of course need to be taken into
account in assessing the total net benefit.
Market sectors which EnDCo believes can
most benefit from its Offset Supply service
include manufacturing, Energy from Waste
recycling plants, onshore oil and gas
extraction and even public sector
organisations such as hospital trusts which
can have large capacity onsite generating
CHP and biomass plants.
Information about the Offset Supply service
can be found on the EnDCo website at:
http://www.endco.co.uk

News

BRE takes a cool look at air
conditioning in non-domestic buildings

A

newly published BRE report sheds
important light on electricity usage
by air conditioning in UK offices and
retail environments. Comprising the findings
of a two-year study commissioned by the
Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC) - now part of the Department of
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- the report provides key insights into how
the energy is being used and the factors
influencing consumption.
The aim of the study was to improve
the DECC’s understanding of UK electricity
usage by air-conditioning (AC) in UK
non-domestic buildings. Led by Dr Andy
Lewry, BRE’s principal consultant, in the
sustainable energy team, the study included
analysing existing cooling demand and
consumption data; assessing air
conditioning inspection reports and energy
performance certificates; reviewing literature
on trends in air conditioning usage and the
possible future impacts of new technology;
and developing procedures to extend the
scope of DECC’s product policy model.
With the research informing objectives
ranging from estimating the potential for

energy efficiency to how uptake of
energy-efficient appliances can be
accelerated, the main findings and
outcomes include:
•
Cooling in air conditioning systems
may account for around a tenth of total
UK electricity consumption.
•
Heat-waves are becoming more
frequent across the UK and in the
South-East of England, the number
of heat-wave days per year increased
from 5 in 1961 to 17 in 2003.
•
The proportion of buildings with
air-conditioning is increasing. The
study estimates that that, in 2012,
some 65% of UK office space and 30%
of UK retail space was air-conditioned.
•
The study estimates that cooling in
offices typically uses around 40 kWh/
m2 per year.
•
Air conditioning is frequently used
even when buildings are unoccupied,
for example in the evenings and over
the weekends.
•
The analysis of Energy Performance
Certificates (EPCs) indicates that over
half of air conditioning systems in the

•

•

UK are split systems. Although only
10% of EPCs have AC
recommendations; these mostly
relate to more efficient equipment,
including variable speed drives, and
reducing air leakage from ductwork
An analysis of the recommendations
in air conditioning inspection reports,
which tend to be generic with the
focus on improving controls and
maintenance.
Recommendations for updating the
key inputs into DECC’s existing
product policy model of air
conditioning electricity demand and
development of an algorithm to
estimate peak and monthly demand
to supplement it.

BRE has also put together a dissemination
plan aimed specifically at air-conditioning
designers and technicians, building
managers and smart system designers
The full report with appendices is freely
available on BRE’s website at
bre.co.uk/ac_energyuse

he UK competitive market for
non-household customers opens
in April 2017, and in an interesting
development Thames Water has decided to
transfer its retail business to Castle Water
over the coming months.
In the current scenario of the UK retail
water market, all non-household
customers in Scotland can choose their
retail water service provider whereas in
England and Wales non-household
customers using 5 million litres a year or
more can choose their service provider. In

April 2017, the threshold of ‘more than 5
million litres per year’ is to be removed,
which will open up the entire non household
customer base. Estimates from Thames
Water indicate that this will open up the
current market estimated to be around £540
million to about £2.5 billion in 2017.
Even with the opening of the market
there is little margin that the retail water
service companies can secure with the
non-household customers. The business
opportunity for retail water companies is
associated to the on-site activities such as
billing, customer management, leakage
management, water conservation as well as
on-site water and wastewater treatment
needs. The non-household customer
segment is also characterised by a large
range of customers from hotels, retail
out-lets, cafes, super markets, industries,
sites under the National Health Service and
the Defence, etc. The multi-site aspect of
many of these customers groups does make
it an attractive segment to develop a range
of innovative solutions and services to
enhance and improve on-site water services.

Customers have become central to the
strategy of water utilities in the UK as they
embark in addressing efficiency
improvement as well as customer
management. Thames Water is the largest
water utility in the UK and the decision of
off-loading its retail water services certainly
will allow it to focus on its main customer
base of households and channel its efforts
in the extensive infrastructure that is much
need of rehabilitation and renovation to
secure the much needed efficiency
improvements.
It is worth adding that competition of
water service in the UK household sector
could open in 2020 and utilities will need
to focus on their household customers in
the coming years to be better equipped
in capitalising on the retail opening of the
household market.
For more information or to schedule an
interview, please contact Anna Zanchi,
Corporate Communications:
anna.zanchi@frost.com

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

News

ABB identifies 30
technical challenges
facing users of VSDs in
HVAC applications
T
wo decades of research reveals the
most common misconceptions and
challenges facing consultants, OEMs,
systems houses and facility managers when
using variable-speed drives within the
HVAC sector.
ABB is addressing some 30 technical
challenges facing users of variable-speed
drives (VSD) within the building services
sector. The challenges affect, to varying
degrees, consultants, OEMs, systems houses,
facility managers and end-users. As such,
ABB plans to target the relevant challenges
to each customer type, over the coming
months, before collating all 30 by way of
a top tips eBook.
The identified challenges are the results
of over two decades of VSD installations
throughout the building services sector.
They are based on feedback from
customers, observations of third-party
installations and changes to legislations,
regulations and standards.
“What has become clear is that not all
drives are the same,” explains ABB’s UK

manager for HVAC drives, Carl Turbitt. “This
is partly due to advances in hardware and
software which means that today’s drives
are very different to those that were written
into specifications several years ago.”
For instance, today’s heating, ventilation
and air conditioning (HVAC) applications
can be driven with a variety of motor types
from electronically commutated motors
(ECMs), permanent magnet motors (PM),
synchronous reluctance motors (SynRM)
and induction motors. Yet users need to be
extremely careful when selecting which type
of motor can be used for their application.
ECMs, for example, are brushless DC
motors that function using a built-in inverter
and a magnetic rotor, and as a result are
claimed to achieve greater efficiency in
air-flow systems than other kinds of AC
motors. The motors have a long life and
are extremely quiet. However, they can be
costly to buy and while the high efficiency
offered by ECMs may be suitable for some
applications, it is essential that the right
motor technology is selected if unforeseen

problems with harmonics, catching spinning
loads and power loss ride through are to
be avoided.
The cost-effective SynRM, for example,
offers the same efficiencies as ECMs but
without the aforementioned issues. A
SynRM controlled properly in a well
designed system can achieve the specific
fan powers, whilst being controlled by a
traditional VSD that then brings all of the
advantages associated with that drive such
as: improved harmonic mitigation, adequate
power drip ride through, fieldbus
connectivity and built-in control features to
enhance the application.
“ECMs, at smaller ratings, are more
compact and their efficiencies make them
attractive to OEMs,” notes Turbitt. “But
above 11 kW, they are too big to fit fans.
Also at higher powers, heat losses cannot be
easily dissipated within a fan’s hub design.
By contrast, using a VSD and motor package
in these higher powers avoids these issues
and brings a host of other important
benefits such as harmonic mitigation, the
ability to catch a spinning load etc.”
Among some of the other considerations
when selecting a drive is that not all
harmonic mitigation is the same, not all
drives are right for outdoor use and not all
drives achieve the EMC regulations when
connected to a motor.
ABB has addressed many of these
challenges by incorporating hardware and
software changes in its new ABB HVAC
drive, ACH580 - a variable-speed drive
dedicated to the HVAC sector.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leading global
technology company in power and
automation that enables utility, industry,
and transport & infrastructure customers to
improve their performance while lowering
environmental impact. The ABB Group
of companies operates in roughly 100
countries and employs about 135,000
people.
For help with any technical terms
in this release, please go to:
www.abb.com/glossary

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

News

HIGH INTENSITY LEDs
TRANSFORM THE TEST LAMP
N
ow available from Martindale
Electric – leaders in electrical
safety – is the latest generation of
Drummond test lamps using high intensity
LEDs for live voltage indication. The use of
high intensity LEDs has transformed the
test lamp, enabling the display of discrete
voltages levels over a 360 degree viewing
angle, even in bright sunlight and for the
most difficult of applications. The visibility
from all angles is unique when compared to
conventional two pole testers and with no
batteries or ranges to worry about, it’s the
simplest and safest way to prove dead when
carrying out safe isolation procedures.
Featuring four distinctive bands of LED
illumination, the MTL10 and MTL20 test
lamps provide safe and clear indication for
voltages above 50, 100, 200 and 400 volts.
Gone are the days of using lamp brightness
to determine the voltage. The discrete
voltage levels allow accurate identification

of potentially lethal voltages and enable
electrical professionals to distinguish
between 110V, 230V and phase to phase
voltages in a 3 phase system.
Designed to optimise user safety, the
innovative new range of test lamps from
Martindale Electric feature a finger shield
to minimise the risk of accidental contact
with a live conductor and insulated probe
tips, with only 4mm of exposed metal. For
difficult applications where access is limited,
the detachable probes can be replaced with
right angled or straight probes from 3cm to
13cm long, which can be rotated and
locked in place, enabling easy access to
measurement points in crowded cabinets.
For troubleshooting demanding
applications, for example, when live voltage
indications appear to be present after
isolating a circuit, the MTL20 also features
a dual impedance functionality, which can
enable electrical professionals to get to the

bottom of the problem quickly and safely.
Featuring all of the same benefits as the
MTL10, the MTL20 incorporates two test
buttons, one on the body of the unit and
one on the probe. Simultaneous depression
of both switches presents a low impedance
to the circuit under test, enabling the test
lamp to draw a high current and dissipate
phantom voltages, making it easy to
differentiate between phantom voltages,
due to capacitive coupling and true
hazardous voltages.
The latest range of Drummond test lamps
from Martindale Electric feature exceptional
build quality and conform to the latest
safety standards referenced in HSE GS38
(2015) including BS EN61243-3, which came
into force in 2013. Both models feature a
600V CAT IV safety rating in accordance
with BS-EN 61010-1, making them suitable
for higher category supply side applications.
Suitable for use in bright sunlight and
ideal for measurements where access is
restricted, Drummond test lamps are the
perfect solution for proving dead and
ensuring compliance with the Electricity at
Work Regulations for implementing safe
working practices.
Available to purchase separately, or as
part of a kit, the MTL10PD and MTL20PD
include a proving unit and a combination
carry case to ensure that electrical
professionals always have their proving
unit to hand before and after testing for
live voltages.
Widely specified by electricity utilities
and other safety conscious organisations,
the MTL10 and MTL20 come with a 2 year
warranty.
www.martindale-electric.co.uk

Making the case for sustainable heating

E

nergy firm SSE publishes report
making the case for increased use of
district heating to help combat
heating efficiency and affordability.
The Sustainable Heating: Reducing Costs,
Improving Comfort and Lowering Carbon
Emissions report found one retrofit project
at the Wyndford Estate in Glasgow has
delivered a 62% reduction in CO2 emissions
since it was installed in 2012. The results
also show that lives have significantly

improved, comfort has increased, and jobs
and economic value have been created.
Working with the University of Edinburgh
the report concluded:
•
81% of tenants and 90% of owners said
they felt warmer with the new
heating system;
•
60% fewer tenants and 80% fewer
owners reported going to bed early
to keep warm;
•
Tenants cutting back on food

For further details and forthe full report
please contact Ciara.Wilson@sse.com

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

News

T

rend Control Systems, the leading
international manufacturer and
supplier of state-of-the-art Building
Energy Management Systems (BEMS), is
celebrating its success at the recent Business
Matters Business Awards 2016. The
company fought off stiff competition to
walk away with the prestigious
Manufacturing and Construction Award,
which recognises the investment it has
made in this element of its business, as well
as the high standards it operates to.
The Business Matters Business Awards
highlight excellence within the circulation of
the West Sussex County Times, Mid Sussex
Times and the Crawley Observer, covering
Horsham, Crawley, Haywards Heath and
Burgess Hill. They are dedicated to
recognising, rewarding and celebrating local
businesses. Now in their fifth year, the 2016
awards event took place at the Gatwick
Hilton Hotel and was hosted by
Nick Wallis, BBC One Show presenter and
Channel 5 reporter.
Sponsored by Sussex Chamber of
Commerce, the Manufacturing and

Trend triumphs at the
Business Matters
Business Awards 2016
Construction Award was judged by an
independent panel of individuals
representing the local business community.
The panel examined those enterprises that
have demonstrated exceptional financial
returns, innovation, strong growth and
market leadership in the field of
manufacturing and/or construction.
Accepting the award, Alan Carter, Trend’s
Research and Development Manager, said,
‘We are immensely proud of our long
association with Sussex and believe that the
region offers all the ingredients for business
success. I am thrilled that Trend’s
manufacturing and business excellence has
been recognised in this way.’
As one of the area’s largest employers,
Trend has a well established and highly
successful apprenticeship programme, and
firmly believes that the increasing
popularity of building control technology
offers a bright future for those wishing to
work at the cutting edge of the green
agenda. As such, two of its apprentices,
Ryan Owner and Zak Tucker were
nominated for the Young Achiever award

and the company also sponsored the
Training & Development Award, which is
designed to acknowledge exemplary
training programmes that make a real
difference and saw Josh Hough, MAS
Technicae ( International) Group Ltd
emerge victorious.
Sue Sluce, Trend’s Learning and
Development Manager, commented,
‘Trends’ Attitude Apprenticeship Scheme
combines classroom based learning with
on the job experience and since its launch
in 2007 we have successfully helped 53
people become fully qualified, with a further
64 currently in training. We were delighted
to sponsor the Training & Development
Award for which the calibre of entrants was
extremely high, and highlights how the
Sussex region is leading the way in skills
development.’
For further information please call
01403 211888 or email
marketing@trendcontrols.com

Energy Institute offers
new online qualification in
energy management

T

he Energy Institute (EI), the chartered
professional membership body for the
global energy sector, now offers a new
online qualification in energy management.
Level 2: Energy Management Professional
provides students with the opportunity to
complete 15 modules on a variety of energy
management topics, and to carry out a
feasibility study of a real-world problem
in their organisation, in order to gain
a comprehensive understanding of
energy management.
Will Sadler, Training Team Manager,
Energy Institute, says, ‘This course was
developed to provide all the knowledge
that professional energy managers need
to go about their role successfully. The
programme offers five core modules which
cover the underpinning theory of energy
management along with finance and project
management skills. This reflects the
transition for the energy manager’s role

from the boiler room to the boardroom and
that, moving forwards, all energy managers
should have financial and project
management know-how in their armoury.’
The EI’s Level 2: Energy Management
Professional course is intended to help
students achieve energy and cost savings,
reduce carbon emissions and meet their
organisation’s environmental targets.
Students must complete five core modules
and a further 10 elective modules from 19
different topics. These cover a wide range of
areas from heating, ventilation and lighting
to measurement and verification, on-site
electricity generation and regulations and
incentives. Participants will also undertake
a project to help apply the technical and
managerial skills they have developed
throughout the course.
One of the benefits of this course is that
participants can work through the materials
at their own pace and around their work

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

commitments. Throughout the course,
tutor support is provided with continuous
assessment. Overall, the course provides 200
hours of learning. Each of the modules can
also be undertaken on a stand-alone basis
for experienced energy managers seeking
expertise on specific topics.
The Level 2 course fits within the EI’s
successful energy management training
portfolio and is ideal for those with two or
more years’ relevant experience in energy
management or who have completed the
EI’s introductory course Level 1: Certificate
in Energy Management Essentials. The Level
2 course will also support those working
towards achieving Chartered Energy
Manager status, demonstrating their
commitment to energy management.
Visit www.energyinst.org/Level-2
to find out more

consortium of three National Health
Service (NHS) Trusts in Liverpool
is the first in Europe to receive the
newly launched Investor Ready Energy
Efficiency™ (IREE) certification. Launched
today by Environmental Defense Fund’s
Investor Confidence Project (ICP) Europe,
the IREE certification for commercial and
multifamily residential buildings is granted
to projects that follow ICP’s framework, and
provides investors with more confidence in
financial and environmental results.
“Liverpool has always been a place of
trade and innovation, and we at Liverpool
Women’s Hospital are proud to honour
that heritage. By pioneering ICP’s new
investor-ready certification in Europe, we
are showing that that we can take climate
action that is good for our people and good
for business,” said John Foley, Environmental
Manager at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The £13-million project developed by the
Carbon and Energy Fund, with financing
from Macquarie Group, will improve the
energy and carbon performance of three
hospitals: Aintree University Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust, Liverpool Women’s NHS
Foundation Trust, and The Walton Centre
NHS Foundation Trust, resulting in annual
savings of £1.85 million, with an average
energy saving of 50% and an average
carbon saving of 33% annually.
“This is a landmark deal in energy
efficiency financing. This new certification

promises to help unlock the European
retrofit market”, says David Mackey at the
Carbon and Energy Fund (CEF), who
developed the project. “We have £100
million worth of projects in the pipeline
that will be certified – a clear signal to the
market we are open for business.”
Project investors Macquarie Group stated,
“Macquarie is pleased to support the NHS
energy efficiency upgrade project in
Liverpool. We look forward to financing
future energy efficiency projects as the UK
transitions to a clean, low-carbon economy.”
The energy efficiency market already
employs more than around 136,000 people
in the UK, is worth more than £18 billion
annually, and delivers exports valued at
nearly £1.9 billion per year.
“The Liverpool Energy Collaboration
scheme demonstrates a strong partnership
approach for delivering low carbon
investment plans by the NHS. Working with
the Investor Confidence Project, the Carbon
and Energy Fund and Macquarie Bank, these
three trusts have come together to deliver
innovative energy efficiency solutions that
will reduce the operational revenue costs
of each trust, alongside delivering
environmental benefits in a cost effective
way,” said Peter Sellars, NHS Estates Head
of Profession.
As it expands, ICP’s Investor Ready Energy
Efficiency™ certification could point the way
toward mass-scale financing of energy

efficiency in the building sector – where
€100 billion per year is needed to reach
the EU’s 2020 energy efficiency target. By
providing at-a- glance branding for building
retrofit projects, this new certification has
the potential to help unlock tens of billions
of dollars in energy efficiency investments.
By working collaboratively with other
innovative government, utility and private
sector programs, like property-assessed
clean energy financing and
“pay-for- performance,” ICP will help
ensure that energy efficiency delivers on
its promise.
ICP Europe’s Ally Network of about 150
market leaders includes the Building
Owners’ and Managers Association,
Siemens, ARUP, E.On, World Green Building
Council, and the Building Performance
Institute Europe. The recently launched
Investor Network has brought together
investors with €1 billion in assets under
management looking for energy efficiency
opportunities. ICP recently received the
prestigious Finance for Resilience (FiRe)
award presented by Bloomberg New
Energy Finance.
Interested parties are invited to contribute
to ICP Europe’s efforts through the
Technical Forum and help make energy
efficiency a global asset class by joining the
ICP Europe Ally Network.
panama.bartholomy@eeperformance.org

How to understand business energy wastage for lower bills

I

nprova Energy has published
a new eGuide to show facilities
managers how to reduce energy
costs via better monitoring and
targeting of consumption
management.
The free e-guide details four steps
facilities managers can take to
understand and profile energy use.
This will help inform their energy
strategy and lead to lower bills.
“If you think your energy bill is a
fixed cost that’s out of your control,
think again”, said Kerry Hamilton,
Head of Energy & Environment for
Inprova Energy. “By monitoring,
analysing and understanding how
you use energy, you can then
understand where wastage may be

occurring. It’s then possible to
take action to reduce both the
waste and the cost.”
She added: “Understanding
energy consumption patterns is
invaluable in developing strategic
energy plans and forecasting
demand, as well as informing
contract renewal choices and
improving bill validation. It can
also help organisations move
their energy load away from
peak charging hours, as well as
potentially generate revenue for
entering the capacity market. All
options will reduce energy costs.”
www.inprovaenergy.com

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

News

Business will be key driver of
global climate action, new
research report reveals

A

new research report, ‘The Business
End of Climate Change’ launched
today at the Business & Climate
Summit in London’s Guildhall puts a figure
for the first time on what greenhouse gas
emissions cuts could be achieved by
business worldwide.
The report examines what will be
achieved by the plans of five key global
business initiatives (RE100; EP100; Science
Based Targets; Zero De-forestation & LCTPi)
on climate action currently underway and
compares this to what could happen if all
relevant companies were to sign up to these
initiatives and implement their plans.
The report shows that:
•
the current Business Determined
Contribution (BDC) to climate action
– the amount that, by 2030, business
will cut its greenhouse gas emissions
– is 3.7bn metric tons of CO2 equivalent
a year under current plans;
•
the potential BDC to climate action
could be as high as 10bn metric tons of
CO2 equivalent a year by 2030 with the
right policy environment that supports
all relevant companies signing up;
•
the number of companies signing up
to these initiatives could rise from 300
today to over 3500 by 2030.
Commenting on the Report which he
launched at the Business & Climate Summit
in London, IKEA chief sustainability office,
Steve Howard said: “Building a better future
is our shared responsibility. Companies,
investors, individuals, cities and regions
all have a role to play. Action on climate
change is not only the right thing to do, it
brings business benefits. For IKEA Group it’s
a driver of innovation, renewal and an
opportunity to make our business better.”
The current BDC to climate action of
3.7bn metric tons of CO2 equivalent a year
represents over 60% of the total emissions
cuts (6bn metric tonnes by 2030) pledged
by all countries in the Paris Climate
Agreement through their own Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs). It is the
equivalent of taking over 1000 coal-fired
power stations permanently out of use,
almost 75% of the world’s total.
Business is not waiting until 2030 to
play its part. In total, around 300 leading
companies have already signed up to the
five climate action initiatives that the report
analyzes. Companies signing up to the
initiatives come from all over the world in all
different sectors, and are joining in growing

10

numbers – over the last twelve months (June
2015-May 2016), 174 companies signed up
to these initiatives, compared to 49
companies in the previous twelve months
(June 2014-May2015).
Examples of companies already taking
action include:
•
Kellogg Company has cut its carbon
emissions by 14% per metric tonne of
food produced since 2005. In 2015, the
company committed to ambitious
Science Based Targets, including a
65 % reduction in emissions from its
operations by 2050, and engaging
suppliers to help them reduce
emissions by 50% by 2050.
•
Autodesk, one of the world’s leading
software companies, announced this
month that it has achieved its target to
power all of its facilities entirely with
renewable electricity. Going forward
the business has set an internal carbon
price that will help align decisions
and investments with a low-carbon
economy.
•
IKEA Group has committed to going
100% renewable, generating as much
renewable energy as the total energy
it consumes in its buildings by 2020.
The company is a founding partner of
the RE100 campaign and has
committed to cutting its emissions in
line with Science-Based targets. IKEA
Group has invested €1.5 billion in
renewables since 2009 and pledged a
further €600 million last year.
By 2030, the initiatives plan to have more
than 3500 companies signed up, driving
forward the low-carbon economy.
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of
the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said: “In the
run up to COP21 in Paris an extraordinary
alliance of business and investors
committed to ambitious actions via the
dedicated NAZCA portal. I believe that you
can truly say—“We’re Accelerating Climate
Action”. But a universal climate agreement
of nations also needs universal support
from the private sector beyond Europe and
North America. I would urge committed
business to reach out to peers in Africa, Asia
and Latin America in order to further seed,
catalyse and build action everywhere and in
support of COP22 in Marrakech.”
The report acknowledges that whilst
leading companies are already engaged in
taking climate action, and many more

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

• By 2030, business
could cut its
greenhouse gas
emissions globally by
3.7bn metric tons of
CO2 equivalent a year
or 60% of total
emission cuts pledged
in Paris by NDCs
• Emission cuts could
reach around 10bn
metric tons of CO2
equivalent a year, well
over halfway to sub
2°C, with right policy
environment for
enhanced climate
action
• Research conducted
by New Climate
Institute and CDP,
formerly the Carbon
Disclosure Project, on
five key global climate
action initiatives
reveals the ‘Business
Determined
Contribution’ (BDC)
to climate action

News
are ready to sign up to make new
commitments, there remains a long way
still to go to achieve the sub 2°C goal agreed
by countries in Paris at COP21.
The report looks at what might be
achieved if all relevant companies were
encouraged to sign up to the five initiatives.
Under such a scenario, it found that
business would cut emissions by around
10bn metric tons per year. This potential
BDC is equivalent to what China, the world’s
largest emitter, pumps out in total CO2
emissions annually and alone it would take
us well over half way to a sub 2°C world.
Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer,
CDP said: “This report makes it clear that
business will have an enormous role to play
in enabling the global economy to achieve
– and exceed – its climate goals. With this
potential comes great opportunity to build
resilience, innovate and safeguard future
profitability. The only way is up for business
action on climate change. But we must not
head into this future blind: Disclosure of
climate information will be essential to keep
track of corporate progress, spur greater
action and help business achieve its
ambition.”

To achieve this ambitious potential BDC
target, government and business must
continue to work together to create the
right policy and regulatory framework to
allow for enhanced climate action. The
report calls on governments across the
world to:
•
encourage utilities to offer renewable
energy contracts and make it easier for
businesses to commit to them;
•
help companies build their own
renewable electricity installations;
•
support R&D for low carbon
technologies;
•
offer grants and capital depreciation
to make energy efficiency investments
more attractive;
•
create incentives for buyers and sellers
of sustainable products;
•
reduce the administrative and cost
burden of certification for producers,
so it’s easier for them to produce
commodities without deforestation.
Nigel Topping, Chief Executive Officer of
We Mean Business, who commissioned the
report said: “Businesses taking bold action
on climate change are contributing
significantly to placing the world on a below

2°C trajectory. To fully realise this potential,
we need to see three things happening:
One, governments removing barriers and
creating incentives that enable companies
to be even more ambitious in their efforts
to cut emissions. Two, leading companies
already committed to significant climate
action raising the ambition of their peers by
demonstrating the scale of the economic
opportunity. And three, businesses that have
not yet to commit, should follow the strong
lead of the companies who have already
signed up to one or more of the We Mean
Business commitments.”
The report recognises this is a starting
point and not a complete picture of
business action. There are many other
business initiatives out there aimed at
reducing emissions, and a process has been
outlined to capture them in future editions
of what will become an annual report.
Find out more at
www.businessendofclimate.org

Would you like
to be a
Sustainability
Champion
of 2016?

Register NOW for the 2016 Public Sector Sustainability Awards!
For more information, and to enter,
please visit www.pssawards.co.uk

he QRL Radiator Group has become
the first radiator manufacturer to be
granted ‘verified’ status for its T22
Compact radiator by the Energy Saving
Trust – marking the creation of a brand
new, dedicated radiator category for the
efficiency organisation.
The Energy Saving Trust’s verification
scheme provides independent evaluation
of product performance for energy-efficient
products. After reviewing the results of
extensive testing, the organisation awarded
the prestigious recognition to QRL’s flagship
T22 Compact panel radiator (part of its hi-lo,
Barlo and Warmastyle ranges). The
verification compared the QRL T22 Compact
with like-for-like products from its eight
main market competitors – with QRL’s
model consistently coming out top in terms
of heat output performance.
The QRL T22 Compact will now be listed
as a verified product in its own category on
EST Register, the Energy Saving Trust’s

online database of energy-efficient
products. It will appear as the first and only
radiator entry, alongside other heating
system components, including boilers,
heating controls and chemical inhibitors.
Elaine Berry, client relationship manager
at the Energy Saving Trust, says: “As an
organisation that seeks to help consumers
and businesses save energy and money, we
recognise the importance of taking a holistic
approach to heating system efficiency.
Emitters are a crucial part of this, because
just like other system components, they
can have a significant impact on overall
performance. That’s why it’s so important to
opt for an efficient model wherever possible.
“As such, we felt strongly that radiators
deserved their own category, and are
pleased to welcome QRL’s T22 Compact as
the first member. Our verification showed
that the product is very clearly leading the
market in terms of heat transfer, offering
unparalleled performance and the fastest

heat-up times available.”
The Trust’s verification revealed that the
QRL T22 Compact radiator had the highest
heat output on the market – and the best
compatibility with lower-temperature heat
sources such as renewables. The results also
showed that QRL’s Compact model boasts
the highest number of water channels per
metre, as well as the lowest water and steel
content – all of which make for the fastest
heat-up times*.
Mike Wright, product development
manager at QRL Radiator Group, says: “To
be the Energy Saving Trust’s first verified
radiator is a huge accolade, and we’re
extremely proud to be part of what we see
as a landmark development. This is not just
a verification of QRL’s unique performance
capabilities – we’re also confident that it will
help bring an important issue to the
industry’s attention: radiator efficiency.
Emitters are consistently overlooked when
it comes to efficient heating specification,
which can seriously compromise wider
system performance, and that’s something
that we at QRL are working hard to change.
“The fact that the Energy Saving Trust has
created a new radiator category is evidence
of a shift in industry attitudes. This is an
important step forward, as it’s high time
we started moving emitters right up the
efficiency agenda.”
Energy Saving Trust verification is also
underway for several other products in
QRL’s panel radiator range, with the results
expected later this summer.
For more information about QRL’s
Compact panel radiator, or any of the
products in the company’s extensive
portfolio of market-leading panel, feature
and LST radiators, please visit
www.qrl-radiators.com or email
enquiries@qrl-radiators.com

12

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

News

CHP can save NHS £26.4 million per year

T

he Securing Healthy Returns report,
which analyses the financial value
of key sustainability measures in
the NHS, states that combined heat and
power (CHP) provides the biggest energy
saving opportunity – amounting to £26.4
million per year.
That’s enough to fund the salaries of
more than 1,200 newly qualified registered
nurses.
The report, published by the Sustainable
Development Unit (SDU) for NHS England
and Public Health England, analyses 35
proven measures that it says could achieve
a total £400m of cost savings and reduce
carbon emissions by 1 million tonnes every
year by 2020. These interventions were
selected because they are supported by
robust data and evidence to enable analysis
and scaling.
Of the 18 energy saving measures
covered in the report, CHP provides the
highest annual potential cost savings

(£26.4m), followed by staff energy
awareness and behaviour change (£21.5m);
high efficiency lighting (£7.2m); and
reducing temperature set points by 1
degree celsius (£6.2m).
The SDU states that CHP also has the
potential to cut carbon dioxide emissions by
3,750 tonnes per year, which equates to the
environmental benefit of removing 1,250
cars from the road or the carbon dioxide
that would be offset by a 3,550 acres of
forest (more than three times the size of
Sherwood Forest).
Many NHS Trusts are already achieving
significant cost and carbon savings by
utilising CHP, which is highly efficient
because it captures the heat wasted in
conventional power generation and uses it
on-site for heating and cooling.
One of the early adopters was the Heart
of England NHS Foundation Trust, which
partnered with CHP specialist ENER-G to
introduce the technology to its Birmingham
Heartlands Hospital and Solihull Hospital.
The trust’s transition to low carbon
heat and power, together with the wider
refurbishment of its electricity, heating and
cooling infrastructure, is achieving
significant energy and operational cost
savings - guaranteed by ENER-G, which
funded the capital programme over a
15-year contract period
East Cheshire NHS Trust is also

demonstrating the cost and carbon saving
potential of CHP, which is at the heart of a
recent upgrade of its energy infrastructure
across two hospitals.
Utilising the the Carbon and Energy
Fund framework, the Trust has partnered
with ENER-G to deliver CHP and associated
energy efficiency improvements, which will
generate guaranteed cost savings of £2.5
million over 15 years.
Chris Marsland, Technical Director for
ENER-G Cogen International, said: “Due to
the 24/7 heat demand of acute hospitals,
CHP can operate at efficiencies in excess
of 85% - more than double that of other
coal and gas fired generation sources the
Department of Energy and Climate Change’s
half-hourly modelling shows that it
displaces. As such, the cost and carbon
savings really stack up and more hospitals
should specify CHP to provide assured cost
and carbon savings long into the next
decade and beyond.”
The SDU has released an online tool in
tandem with the report to assist trust’s in
implementing sustainability improvements.
Since 2007, SDU has supported NHS
organisations to save in excess of £190m
each year on energy, waste, water and fuel
fuel.
Further information:
www.energ-group.com

Opinion

The Two Sides of Solar

T

he solar industry is undergoing a
significant period of change. Last
week’s Brexit vote is suspected
to have serious consequences to
the UK’s renewable energy sector
– changing everything from national
renewables targets to the import of solar
modules. Similarly, earlier this year, the
government’s subsidy cuts directly impacted
the industry’s record breaking growth.
The Solar Trade Association (STA) is still
collecting statistics on job loses, and the
majority of solar companies are evaluating
their business models to understand
what’s next.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Recently Solar Power Europe has published
its Global Market Outlook, which showed
the EU solar market grew by 15 per cent
from 2015 to 2016. As an industry we’ve
also achieved some record breaking firsts
in the last few months. For example, for the
first time, the sun provided more UK
electricity (via photovoltaic panels) than
coal-fired plants over a full 24-hour period
on the 9th of April. This was equal to just
under 30 gigawatt hours – or 4 per cent of

national demand – being met by solar.
Continuing to drive solar and
renewables initiatives across the commercial
and private sectors is a no brainer. It’s taking
place at an amazing rate around the world,
particularly in developingcountries like India
and Argentina. But manufacturers still have
a huge responsibility to increase the uptake
of solar through cost effective, efficient
design, and most importantly, continued
innovation, even under the current intense
financial strains.
So where is the next innovation? It’s
behind you. No really. Able to deliver
robustness and efficiency, whilst keeping
cost consistent and increasing performance,
it’s BiFacial technology. BiFacial technology
uniquely utilises both sides of the panel to
absorb more light and ultimately generate
more electricity. Yes, it’s a double-sided
solar panel that maximises the sun’s energy.
When looking at panel design, the
majority solar panels are flat, with
photovoltaic cells on one side. Which makes
sense for rooftops installations and the like.
But does it? Research has found that by
raising the panel we can make use of our

By Bob Mills, Senior
Manager at LG Solar

reflective surfaces for better energy yields.
And you’d be surprised at what counts as
a reflective surface; grass, tiles, paint, snow
even sand can bounce sunlight back to the
module for increased efficiency. The design
utilizes the whole panel, back and front to
get the most out of conditions.
Over the last few years, demands on the
solar market have never been higher.
Installers are expecting the same level of
output, whilst grants are taken away and
budgets are subsequently slashed. The only
way a true solar and renewable revolution
can be delivered, is through constant
progression and innovation. However, as
manufacturers continue to innovate with
new ideas, they cannot forget about the
value of durability and consistent
performance. The industry, and in particular
the manufacturers, have a responsibility
to tap into every single opportunity, for the
huge potential of solar to be fulfilled.

hose of you who work in the
public sector will have come
across the term “Value
Engineering” and those in the
private sector will have
experienced the same phenomenon. It
actually might have three meanings
1.

2.
3.

I know this is what the specification
costs but we haven’t got enough
money, can you do it cheaper?”
“We’ve got the contract, now how do
we make a profit?”
We’re losing money on this project,
what can we get away with cutting out?

In all cases the concept is similar; take
off the frills and reduce the contract to its
essential components, thereby reducing
the total cost of the project.
Now I’ve little problem in taking off the
“nice to haves” (it could easily be a better
project that way) but too often the “frills”
removed are the energy management
elements and needed. I keep quoting that
“any energy using equipment will normally
use 25-30 times its capital cost in energy
over its lifetime” (anyone know where that
comes from? It feels true but I’ve forgotten
the source and quick calculations seem to
concur) and pointing out that therefore
even a small saving in energy use (or
increase in energy efficiency if you want to
look at it that way) can justify a significant
increase in capital cost over the lifetime of
the equipment.
So why do I keep seeing examples
where cost cutting has made the operating
cost of the plant much higher or even made
the plant impractical to use?
A classic example is a swimming
pool/leisure centre I dealt with in the
Midlands. Going well over budget it was

value engineered to reduce capital cost and
the energy management changes resulted in
a design EPC of B becoming an operational
DEC of E - definitely a warning sign.
So what had they done?
The first “saving” was the removal of the
pool cover from the specification. Now
anyone with experience of swimming pools
knows that a pool cover reduces the
overnight evaporative losses massively
and generally has a payback measured
in months (additionally they reduce the
humidity in the pool hall overnight and
thereby decrease building fabric
deterioration) -so its omission was probably
not a good idea.
The second saving came in the pool
lighting. The original specification called for
High Pressure SONs (highly efficient lights
- see “Is there an LED fallacy” - Energy
Manager magazine - April 2016 Issue) but
these were replaced with less energy
efficient but brighter (meaning less light
fittings were needed) metal halides. The
trouble is, apart from the increase in energy
consumption, metal halides exhibit one
more failing. If you splash cold water onto
them when they are operating they tend to
shatter spraying broken glass around. This
was in a swimming pool - lots of splashing
and bare feet all around.
The practical impact of that was
significant - whenever a bulb blew part (at
least) of the “wet area” would need to be
cordoned off until everyone was sure all the
glass had been collected.
The third problem (and the last I
became aware of; I seriously suspect there
may have been more “savings” that I didn’t
notice) took a while to notice. I asked for the
Half-Hourly electricity meter data so I could
do some profiling and by mistake I was sent
both the consumption and the power factor
data.
For those who don’t know Power Factor
relates to an element of the supplied

electricity which isn’t measured directly by
the meter but which actually increases the
cost to the generator who when a site has a
power factor below about 0.95 (it varies
a bit between distribution companies)
impose penalty charges on to the
consumer. Devices like computers,
Fluorescent lights and electric motors often
have bad power factors.
Now at the leisure centre during the
day the Power Factor was 1.0 (ideal) but
overnight it suddenly dropped to 0.88
(which would, had the electricity supplier
noticed, have caused severe penalties to
be imposed).
Strange I thought, why when the load
drops (and it dropped a lot) would the
Power Factor suddenly become so bad?
Another tour of the plantrooms revealed
the answer. There in full view were the
main daytime pumps, each fitted with an
inverter which corrected their power factor
and made them more efficient (that they
also had variable speed ability which wasn’t
being utilised was another unfortunate
“saving”). Hidden behind them were another
set of much smaller pumps intended for
use overnight (when presumably the pool
cover would have reduced losses) and guess
what? No inverter drives! A saving had been
made by omitting them on the basis that
the overnight pumps would use much less
energy than their larger daytime brethren.
Of course that would have meant that over
their lifetime (which would be longer than
the main pumps as they ran less hours) they
would use much more energy. However
much more telling was the fact that had the
supply company noticed, the penalty charge
would have wiped out the savings IN ONE
INVOICE!
The conclusion from this is that before
any capital saving is considered the long
term implications and cost should be fully
examined – and perhaps the end user’s
energy manager should be consulted...

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

15

Opinion

Energy prices will rise
– but not necessarily
because of Brexit
8 factors driving energy prices in the UK

E

nergy prices will rise by as much
as 30% by 2020 driven by a
multitude of factors, most of
which, but not all, are
unconnected to the UK’s decision
to leave the EU. Nick Proctor, managing
director of amber energy, explains what
these influences are and warns business
owners not to be fooled by those that may
blame Brexit for political gain.
Note: In true Euro 2016 style, we have
attempted to determine each dynamic by
using a football-esq scoring system: a draw
means the impact is neutral while lower
prices will sometimes win out over price
hikes or vice versa.

Even if this were the case, however, the
impact of any economic downturn in the UK
would make little difference to the world oil
markets. As Goldman Sachs explains: “If we
assume a 2% drop in UK GDP in response
to the exit vote, which is on the high end
of our economists’ estimates, then UK oil
demand would likely be reduced by 1% or
16,000 barrels per day, which is a 0.016 %
hit to global demand.”
Verdict: In other words, the impact
would be minimal but would marginally
favour a potential decrease in energy prices.

Pan-European energy
infrastructure
Lower prices 1-1 Price hikes

True to its EU commitments, the UK
produces around 50% of its electricity from
gas now. Despite our historic relationship
with coal, just 6% of our energy production
comes from coal now.
The majority this supply (54%) comes
from Europe and another 15% from outside
Europe. As the value of sterling has
plummeted post the Brexit vote, the cost
of importing this gas has increased.
Verdict: Unless the value of the pound
recovers, the cost of gas will increase.

For several years now, the European
Commission has been investing heavily in
creating a pan-European energy
infrastructure, which would allow energy
to flow freely across the EU with no
technical or regulatory barriers. The idea
is that this will facilitate a truly free market
keeping prices competitive and allowing the
area to fulfil its renewable energy potential.
As things stand, it is unclear whether
the UK will opt to stay within Europe’s
internal energy market. This will likely form
part of negotiations around the terms of
an exit. However, given that the project is
more about having the right infrastructure
in place it is unclear that this would lower
energy bills anyway. As a result, it is
impossible to say what bearing this would
have on energy prices going forward.
Verdict: Given the uncertainty and the
fact this is more an infrastructure project for
now, its effect on energy prices has to be
regarded as neutral at this stage.

The influence of the global
economic outlook
Lower prices 1-0 Price hikes
It is tough to forecast how the UK
leaving the EU might influence the global
economic outlook but the consensus seems
to be that there could be a negative reaction
and a drop in UK GDP.

16

The cost of gas
Lower prices 1-2 Price hikes

The future of Hinkley Point
Lower prices 2-1 Price hikes
The future of the much delayed Hinkley
Point C nuclear power station which would
construct a 3,200 MWe nuclear power
station in Somerset, potentially lowering
energy prices long term, has naturally been
questions since the Brexit vote.
On balance this is a close call that
would probably have to go to penalties.
Essentially the chairman at EDF has said
Hinkley Point will go ahead despite the EU
leave vote. We should indeed expect
investors to consider investment in the UK
on its own merits; if there is a good deal to
be done global firms will likely take them
history tells us. However, the project could
do without further delays and the
uncertainty created by the Brexit vote
means it is a tough one to call.
Verdict: The UK needs Hinkley Point to
go ahead and it seems likely but it could be
further delayed.

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

(Small) Great Britain’s
bargaining potential
Lower prices 2-2 Price hikes
As the fifth largest economy in the
world, it is hard to conceive that just
because we are no longer in the EU we
won’t be capable of arranging competitive
deals with non EU countries. However, the
argument stands that European countries,
whether happy to invest in the UK
infrastructure or not, may impose higher
energy prices to the UK. It all depends on
the outcome of some very complex wider
negotiations to come.
Verdict: It depends on the outcome of
a negotiation with too many moving parts
to call it.

Continued funding for energy
infrastructure
Lower prices 3-2 Price hikes
It goes without saying that the UK
has always gone further when it comes to
tackling climate change than has often
been required. It has often been the first
to commit to climate change action and
has led the way to make commitments
legally binding.
Much of the EU funding for energy
infrastructure we may lose as a result of
Brexit may be offset by direct membership
savings. But the reality is that we’ve already
made 20-year commitments to our energy
infrastructure and this will be unlikely to
be reversed.
Any UK government taking over in the
turmoil could, of course, unhinge some of
the investment but with a growing emphasis
being placed on self-sufficiency (as we will
look to move off the “euro-grid”) it would
seem that further investment may be
required and not less.
Verdict: As we cut ties with our
neighbours, governments would have to
invest in anything that makes the UK more
self-sufficient, potentially lowering prices.

Scottish Independence
Lower prices Down 3-3 Price hikes
With import costs up and the possibility

Opinion
of trade sanctions, the attraction to utilize
UK energy resources goes up. With our
major stock in North Sea oil, Scottish
Independence would throw a spanner in the
works. A revised UK, without our Scottish
neighbours, could mean higher prices in
the UK. That said, the decision on Scotland
requires more political support before it will
play into trading speculation.
Verdict: While the Brexit verdict
certainly opens the door to another
referendum on Scottish independence, there
is too much yet to play out to factor this
into pricing just yet.

The underlying economics are for
bearish movements in energy prices whilst
supply is comfortable, and worldwide
economic data has suggested slower growth
in the largest of our world economies.
The current expectation is for an
unsettled few months whilst traders show
uncertainty to the multiple factors in play,
and knee-jerk trading takes place.
Verdict: We would edge on the side of
the market stabilizing but prices reducing
slightly as global demand slows down.

And finally… How are energy
prices trading?

This is where energy costs can be both
in and out of a business’s direct control. To
pay for the infrastructure changes the UK
has committed to carbon taxation, which is
set to increase by 250% from current levels
by 2020.
Such an increase will push up the bill by
30% by 2019/2020 from current levels. This
is out of any business’s control and, all other
factors aside, represents the single largest
guarantee of a larger energy bill in 2020.
Even with the lowest historic wholesale
prices we’ve seen this year some businesses
have struggled to get into savings territory
due to the rise in non-wholesale energy
costs.

For the average energy bill, around 50%
of it can be accounted for by wholesale
energy costs and the other 50% from the
costs of delivery and carbon taxation.
Let’s examine each of these cost factors
separately.

Wholesale/commodity energy
costs
Wholesale energy costs have only really
reacted to a weakening pound thus far.
Other deeper impacts from Brexit are yet to
be seen, and as the dust settles we’d expect
to see the market stabilise.

Non wholesale energy costs

The situation is only within your control
if you can take measures to reduce your
energy consumption. And returns on
investment are certainly inflated further out.
So when it comes to Brexit and the
impact on the energy bill, perhaps we can
take a leaf out of the Leave voting book and
look to start our journey off the grid. Battery
storage is rapidly developing as a
technology for storage, renewables are
becoming progressively cheaper, and
community energy suppliers are
gaining support.
From a trading point of view, there’s
no clear direction of travel from Brexit and
liquidity will be an issue. If you have to
arrange a supply contract in the interim,
short term contracts make sense. In the
longer term don’t forget to consider the
impact of rising carbon costs already
embedded into UK charging methodology.
Brexit is not to blame.
For more information on amber energy
email info@amberenergy.net

Opinion

BREXIT: The end of an
era - Will the UK be left
in the dark?

T

he referendum has been decided
and the result is in. The UK is to
leave the European Union after
43 years as members. This is
the end of an era. The United
Kingdom joined the European Economic
Community (as it then was) on 1 January
1973 with Denmark and Ireland having been
vetoed on two previous occasions by the
French Government. Its membership was
controversial and the Labour party initially
sought renegotiation of membership after
which the British public participated in a
referendum on whether the United Kingdom
should remain part of the Community. This
was duly held in 1975 with a 67% vote in
favour of continued membership.
Whilst the British public has spoken
and the decision to leave the EU has been
made, the path is far from straight forward.
The referendum is merely the start of a two
year process of negotiations and decisions.
The UK has now to decide if it will join the
European Economic Area (EEA), thereby
remaining as associate members of the
European Union or cut all ties with Europe
– as far as it is possible to do so in a
globalised world economy.
If the UK decides to remain part of the
European Economic Area (EEA), the huge
progress that has been made to date in
improving the UK environment could be
lost in the absence of external pressure and
auditing that membership of the union has
brought. A total withdrawal is likely to bring
a much wider erosion of environmental
policy, which could be the intention the
current Government and one which risks
significant economic damage to the UK. It is
possible however, for members of the EEA
to follow EU environmental policies.
Both Norway and Iceland, as non-EU
members of the EEA, follow EU climate
policy closely and participate in large
parts without exerting significant influence
on its development and direction. Norway
participates in the EU ETS via its parallel
trading system. Initially, it was only able to
do so through a one-way voluntary
acceptance of EU ETS allowances to meet
its own trading system’s obligations, but
joined fully in 2008, once the European
Commission had accepted its proposals for
a cap and allocation of allowances. Its
participation in the ETS continues to allow
it the flexibility of a wider carbon market;

18

By Melanie Kendall-Reid,
Compliance Director, CARBON2018

but it has no influence on the carbon
price applied or the level of ambition set
for the ETS.
Iceland has less need of an emissions
trading mechanism, since its domestic
energy supply is 100% renewable; but
has been part of the EU’s wider emissions
target since the EU and Iceland jointly
ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Its contribution
to the Paris Agreement is aligned with the
EU’s, although it had no voice in European
Council discussions on the targets, and (like
Norway with the ETS), its only choice in
implementation is either to accept EU rules,
or to comply separately without the
flexibility allowed to member states. This
would be the position of the UK if it now
decides to become an EEA member outside
the EU. Also, with regard to trading with its
European counterparts, the UK will be
subject to a wide range of EU laws it will
now have little influence over their content.
European environmental policies
provide business opportunities to UK firms
to become market leaders in the
development of new technologies. The
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
suggested that green business accounted
for 8% of GDP, a third of UK growth in
2011-2012 and could add a further £20
billion to the UK economy. The EU is our
largest trading partner offering access to
a larger marketplace and the opportunity
to trade with other member states under
favourable terms and conditions. Non-EU
Members of the EEA enjoy preferential
access to the Single European Market but
do not participate in Justice and Home
Affairs, Common Foreign and Security
Policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, and
the Common Fisheries Policy. In order to
gain preferential access to the EU market
they do have to abide by the acquis
communautaire – the rules and regulations
governing the operation of the single
market, including many environmental rules.
A total withdrawal with no EEA
membership would lead to significant risk
both rising energy costs and security of
supply as the UK has a heavy dependence
on European interconnectors. Predictions
are that by 2030 the UK will be importing
circa 75% of its gas. Events in the past two
years have shown how important it is to
keep suppliers onside with what has
happened in Eastern Europe with Russia

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

using its gas supplies through Gazprom as
a tool of foreign policy.
Before we joined the EU, Britain was
seen as the dirty man of Europe In the
period that the UK has been in the EU, the
economy and environment has improved,
albeit not entirely due to EU membership.
For many years, Europe led the world in
renewable energy investment but China has
overtaken this. EU nations promoted clean
energy at vastly inflated costs through
imposed renewable energy targets, tariffs
and subsidies. When budgets reached
breaking point in 2011, European renewable
energy investment slumped by more than
half and has yet to recover.
Some environmental policies are as a
result of UK initiatives, Driven by concerns
on carbon price, the UK unilaterally enacted
the carbon floor price which is contributing
to the closure of coal-fired power stations.
The UK has also singly decided to phase out
coal-fired power entirely by 2025. In coming
decades, the planet faces an unprecedented
challenge in the form of climate change
and the only way to address it is through
technological innovation and reduction of
energy use.
What is most worrying now the
decision to Exit the EU has been made is
that, in recent years, the UK government has
shown a clear lack of commitment to driving
down energy use, preferring to focus its
attention on security of supply at any cost
as demonstrated by the capacity market
auctions. The government is now effectively
free to amend or repeal the acts adopted to
give effect to the EU laws that has driven the
implementation of energy efficiency
measures. Without the levels of
environmental protection afforded by EU
membership, the weakening of UK
environmental policy appears inevitable
under the current Government. The longer
term commitment is more positive, in that,
on 22nd April 2016 the UK signed the
COP21 agreement, committing to 1.55%
reduction in carbon emissions. The UK is
expected to deliver on this whether it is an
EU member state or not.
Another particular concern that will be
in the forefront on campaigners’ minds
today is that fracking will become
widespread despite the number of
environmental and safety concerns. The
majority of the rules that regulate the use

Opinion
of fracking are derived from European
directives and are intended to make sure
that fracking and other activities do not
contaminate water, pollute the air or use
unsafe chemicals. The government has
suggested in the past that fracking
legislation is an unnecessary burden. The
Government’s clear and unmoving support
for fracking is a firm indicator that this will
be the case.
Whilst EU membership has its
drawbacks, from an environmental
perspective, it offered the UK protection
from the Government’s varying its
commitment to the environment and

climate change based on other needs
including that of the Treasury. That said, the
exit is a long process – the UK is required to
give two years notice and during that time
there will be much negotiation.
Despite the environmental concerns
arising from the referendum result, there is
widespread acknowledgement from a large
number of global organisations that the
implementation of energy saving measures
and a reduction in energy use is essential
to future success. From a corporate
responsibility perspective, many companies
insist that measures that improve the
efficiency of buildings from which they

operate go beyond the legislative
requirements. Whilst the UK population
who supported the decision to leave the EU
today may have given the current
Government the tools to overturn some
of the progress made through EU
environmental policies, the benefits of
energy efficiency are recognised beyond
the legislative requirement and this will
continue to drive change regardless of any
backward step that the impending exit from
the EU will bring.
www.carbon2018.com

Changing the conversation: bringing
energy savings into the Boardroom

I

f you strip away the complexities of
the energy market then, just like many
other business transactions, prices
can be summed up quite succinctly:
consumption x unit price = cost. If you
want to become more efficient you either
negotiate a cheaper price or you consume
fewer units.
Sure, if you’re a glass maker or a food
manufacturer where heat or power is either
number one or two on your list of costs,
then of course you’ll have looked at your
processes, your usage, and taken actions
on how to become more efficient – some
effectively and perhaps some not so.
For many businesses energy may not be
a large cost or high on your list of priorities
right now but it will climb that list year on
year. Improving your purchasing strategy
and hitting the market right might save
some percentage points off your unit costs
(but don’t forget the commodity costs are
only around half the total bill) – so the
alternative is to use less by investing in
energy efficiency solutions.
One of the frustrations I have is what
happens after I speak to the person
responsible for energy or energy efficiency
–when sometimes it can seem like they’ve
hit a brick wall in getting the green light for
investing in such solutions.
This is not all the time I must stress!
Sometimes I engage straight away with
the FD of a FTSE 250 company and they buy
into the concept and the process can move
smoothly. Sometimes I engage with a
Facilities Manager in a medium sized
business who takes it to the board;
sometimes they say yes and sometimes
they ignore the request.
The other potential issue is that
sometimes the message gets lost in
translation between the energy manager
and the financial decision-maker. Part of the
problem is they speak different languages

– CO2 vs ROI for example – so we must learn
to speak the language of the other in order
to make a compelling business case.
What we are talking about ultimately
is competitiveness, future growth. Most
companies think of energy efficiency only in
terms of cost savings. But it can offer more:
in the form of new business opportunities
and increased competitiveness, business
resilience and investor attractiveness.
So what does this new conversation
look like?
•
Address concern around upfront
cost/appetite for long-term payback
periods: Many boardrooms have heard
all this before; they’ve thrown some
money at the problem but it’s not
gone away. There has been no proof
of success, no verification or
measurement.
•
Challenge uncertainty around
eventual return on investment:
Involve the finance team early and
outline the funding options – it’s
always satisfying meeting a sceptic
and then offering to not only fund the
project but to share the savings until
the investment has paid off. Or tell
them we can take it off-balance or we’ll
underwrite the projected savings. This
approach not only gets FD buy-in but
the board sees a no brainer.
•
Overcome lack of resources, from
relative prioritisation (to explore &
implement): Make recognition of the
strategic nature of energy efficiency
part of the culture – this is about
board level leadership not short-term
tactical wins.
•
Detail how the investment
contributes to the strategic aims of
your organisation- how does it add
value? How does it reduce risks?
How does it reduce costs? From my
perspective it is assisting with people’s

knowledge. I want to be the person
who my customers go to for answers
to their energy questions. And if I don’t
know I have a massive business behind
me where someone will definitely know
the answer.
•
Identify and track the benefits as
you go – financial savings or reduced
regulatory risks can be more
straightforward but are no more
important than value benefits which
are harder to measure – customer
opinion, new business wins, staff pride.
And it can be done. Look at M&S and its
‘Plan A’ commitments. Plan A has not only
reduced costs, it has improved brand perception, customer loyalty and staff pride – it
doesn’t get much more strategic than that.
Coincidentally, E.ON’s Matrix business
has so far helped deliver 36% energy
savings across 600 stores as the energy
efficiency partner of M&S going back
eight years.
So does the Boardroom take energy
savings seriously? I think they would if they
were given the opportunity to look at it
correctly: to understand the risk it has on
their business, the real potential for
improving the bottom line, that
performance can be measured and that a
lack of funding might not stop a project
from happening. And finally that their wider
team, the guys who have to deliver the
projects, are supported by a strong,
reputable business and that the energy
savings are a real and tangible benefit to the
business for the long term.
Martyn Sheridan is a Key Account
Manager for Energy Solutions at E.ON. His
role is to work with large and mid-sized
businesses and identify key areas to reduce
energy consumption, become more efficient
and smart with their energy through to
self-generation and tapping into capacity
markets.
By Martyn Sheridan, E.ON for Business

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

19

Cover Story

A Refreshing
Approach to
Water Management
With the deregulation of water scheduled for April 2017,
non-domestic users in England will for the first time be able to
choose their own water supplier. This change will give businesses
the opportunity to have their water usage and sewerage billed by a
supplier of their choice.
This deregulation of the
water market will give
businesses the ability to:
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

Consolidate billing from one
supplier across multiple sites in
different regions
Achieve lower prices due to
more competition
Benefit from a wider choice of tariff
Receive greater customer service
Have a dedicated account manager
AMR Metering, installation and profile
data as part of the contract
Online access to water billing data

STC are at the forefront of water invoice
validation. For over 15 years we have been
collecting and validating water invoices for
our customers. This data will be invaluable
when preparing for tenders with other water
suppliers in the future and has given us an
insight into the industry and billing options.

Consolidated Electronic
Billing
Water deregulation will enable
businesses to consolidate their bills by
opting for just one supplier.
For customers with a multi-site
portfolio, all accounts should be
consolidated onto one electronic billing
invoice with copies of paper invoices. This
will reduce the administration of
processing multiple invoices. The electronic
billing file can then be imported and
validated by STC to ensure you are only
paying for what is used.

20

The validation process will be even more
important when the switch from water tariffs
to contracts begins in April 2017. Once in
place, a fully cost coded accounts payable
feeder file can then be supplied to your
finance team to streamline this process.
STC Energy provides access to all water
cost and consumption data via our online
web portal together with scanned copies of
suppliers’ paper invoices. This enables our
customers to view all their utilities data in
one place without having to log into
multiple suppliers’ websites.

Water Audits
Carrying out a water audit on large
water consumption and surface area sites
will help to ensure that any issues are
detected early on. By identifying any issues
a report can then be created showing any
incorrect and excessive charges. This report
can result in savings and refunds once any
issues have been addressed.

Water audits will also ensure that future
charging structures are both accurate and
concise for the consumer, and not the water
company. In addition, accurate current water
costs and consumption will provide long
term savings. This will later ensure that all
accounts are in order prior to the opening
up of the market in April 2017.

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

The water audit process begins with an
analysis of all the water invoices and charges
that you currently receive from the water
authority (water, waste water, surface water,
fixed charges and Trade Effluent). At STC
Energy, our water audit service goes above
and beyond just invoice analysis, it will also
follow up with a comprehensive site survey
and report. From this you will be able to
identify where there is potential for savings
and refunds, as well as any priority areas for
investigation.

Water AMR Meters &
Profile Alerts
By installing either an AMR meter or
data logger onto your water supplies you
would be able to monitor consumption in
the same way as electricity or gas.
Water meters are sometimes installed in
inaccessible areas, making it difficult to
arrange meter readings without proper
health and safety training. Installing a data
logger or AMR meter allows easy access to
usage data that can be used by the supplier
to avoid estimated billing. It can also be
used by clients to analyse consumption via
STC’s web portal.
This will allow the setting of
consumption targets that can be used to
produce exception alerts to inform you of
usage outside the usual consumption. Our
profile alerts service will help to ensure
that water is not wasted, especially during
periods of closure.
Any deviations found will trigger an
email alert to a nominated site contact
and/or it can be viewed on an online

Cover Story

Find us at EMEX 2016, stand B36
map-based site exception dashboard.
These alerts can also be directed to and
monitored by our dedicated team who
will then inform the client of this change.
The report will automatically highlight
which sites are over target, allowing for
fast corrective action.
Profile alerts are very successful in
identifying energy wastage directly and in
suggesting behavioural changes that can
be implemented to reduce consumption.
Profile alerts work for both small and large
multi-sites.

Your water and our profile
alerts in a nutshell
Are you wasting water? Water usage
targets set within our profile alert system

will help to ensure that water is not wasted,
especially during times where minimal
water needs to be used or during periods
of closure. The alerts are triggered when
the water usage goes over your set target.
Recommendations are also made if the
consumption of water used goes above the
set targets consistently. The profile alerts
service is an excellent way to gain value
from water profile data to achieve savings at
a low cost.

Since 2005, STC Energy have saved its
clients over ÂŁ6m in water billing queries.
Want to know more about our profile alerts
system or our water audits/validation
services? Simply call Alan Little on
0208 466 2915 or visit us at
www.stcenergy.com

Energy Manager Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ July/august 2016

21

Case Sudy

PARKSERVE TARGETS ENERGY
USE TO REDUCE COSTS AND
INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY

D

iscovery Park in Kent and
Colworth Park in Bedfordshire
are two of the UK’s most
successful business parks, but
their size and complexity as
multi-business campuses with a focus on
science, comes at a price.
And it is the job of Parkserve’s Energy
Manager Paul Fullbrook to deliver a strategy
that will not only identify where savings can
be made, but also to identify the part staff
and individual businesses can play.
It is already having an impact with an
estimated 1,500 tonnes reduction in CO2
emissions since October 2015 with all steps
being taken to ensure the carbon footprint
across both sites is kept in check.
And there’s more to come including a
new £140m biomass facility at the
Discovery Park site, which will generate the
entire power and heat requirement for the
site once built. Work on the plant gets
underway this summer and is expected to
take two years to complete.
“There are challenges in keeping energy
bills in check,” said Paul, “Some of that is
legacy issues related to the task of updating
systems that were originally planned for a
single company use, not the multi-business
hub that both sites have become.
“Both sites also remain significant
hubs for science and that means ensuring
bespoke systems for controlling air,
ventilation and other requirements to meet

22

the needs of 21st century lab research.
“The total amount of electricity
consumed each year at both Colworth Park
and Discovery Park is equivalent to what
would be needed to power more than
24,000 homes with a total energy spend for
the year to April - when gas and water are
added – coming to around £7.75 million.
“My role, since I joined last autumn, has
been about identifying where savings could
be made. Part of that has been looking
afresh at existing policies and procedures
and asking – why do we do it this way? It’s
an approach which has already led to tens
of thousands of pounds in savings.
“In some cases that has been as simple
as switching off pumps, whose activity no
longer serves a purpose. Obviously, an
investigation has been needed first, but the
question ‘Why is something switched on?’
has become like a mantra to me.
“From improving automation to fixing
fire main leaks to improving sub-metering
so that individual buildings or parts of
buildings have bespoke energy settings to
meet their needs, action is being taken now
that will ultimately reap benefits both to site
landlords and to tenants.”
“That work will escalate further in the
coming months as new monitoring software
comes on stream that will allow precise
analysis of usage across both Discovery Park
and Colworth Park.
“By October 2016 we believe total

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

savings will be closer to £250,000 thanks
to the steps taken over the past year in
addition to boiler efficiencies, switching off
redundant motors, and implementation of
better BMS control strategies.
Paul Bax, Operations Director, Parkserve,
added: “In addition to all the demand side
energy strategies and savings that have
been made, Parkserve is working alongside
Discovery Park in optimising the energy
generation side at that site.
“The new £140m biomass facility will
use completely renewable fuels in the form
of coppice in order to generate the entire
power and heat requirement for Discovery
Park. The project is likely to take two years
to complete but will see the whole of
Discovery Park served from a renewable
energy source
Jeff Hind, Managing Director, Parkserve,
added: “Parkserve not only aspires to
minimal environmental impact as an
organisation, but are committed to
facilitating the efficient use of energy and
water; to directly assist our clients and
their tenants reducing costs and their
environmental impact.
“Our ambition is to get both sites more
energy efficient, energy conscious and
energy wise. The steps we’re taking now will
go a long way to getting us there.”

Case Study

Important Technology Breakthrough
Announced by Partnership Between The
National Archives and The IMC Group

project between the IMC
Group and The National
Archives has developed IMC’s
existing range of Hanwell
environmental monitoring,
collection and reporting tools already
commonly used in heritage environments
worldwide, to incorporate data assessment
methodologies based on significant
conservation science developments over
the last few years.
The new “Ensight” software marks a
distinct departure from the current position
of evaluating compliance with a limited
range of environmental conditions, to one
that evaluates the collection care standard
through a series of user-defined criteria and
scientific research.
“The ongoing development of national
and international standards for managing
environmental conditions for cultural
heritage collections and in particular the
publication of the Publically Available
Specification PAS198 by the British
Standards, and the revision of guidelines,
by the National Museums Directors
Conference (NMDC) and the International
Institute for Conservation (IIC), provided us

with an opportunity to develop a tool that
can now guide users with varied levels of
expertise to achieve government
sustainability targets and high preservation
standards,” said The IMC Group Engineering
Director Dr Martin Hancock PhD.
As collection and interpretation of data
in heritage environments becomes more
complex, heritage professionals are in need

of software platforms that incorporate
current conservation knowledge and current
best practice. The new specialised software
now enables users to analyse, assess and
report environmental monitoring data with
simple click functions. Users can also design
custom-made assessment reports from the
new platform.
The National Archive’s project team is
behind the methodology that has informed
the development and operation of The
National Archive’s current environmental
control system with significant dividends
both in sustainability targets and
preservation. As a result The National
Archives has exceeded government
sustainability targets for reduction in CO2
emissions, improved the overall Display
Energy Certificate from G to C and made
energy savings of £175,000 within the first
year of implementation.
Project supervisor Kostas Ntanos, The
National Archives’ Head of Conservation
Research and Development said: “The
21st-century role of the National Archives
is to collect and secure the future of the
record, both digital and physical, to preserve
it for generations to come, and to make
it as accessible as possible; we do this by
devising technological solutions to ensure
the long-term survival of public records and
working to widen access to our collection”.
“Our Knowledge Transfer Partnership
project with the IMC Group has been
graded as ‘outstanding’ - the highest
possible grade which reflects extremely
well on the work led by Anjali Shashidharan
as the project’s Associate and software
developer,” added Mr Ntanos.

eating and hot water possibly
accounts for the largest
annual consumption of
energy in domestic and
non-domestic buildings in the
UK. Providing space heating and hot water
also constitutes to almost half of the CO2
emissions from non-domestic buildings,
resulting in the production of approximately
37 Mt of CO2 per annum (CIBSE knowledge
series KS14). It is estimated that the heating
and hot water requirements for a typical
4000m² naturally ventilated building can
result in the production of approximately
115 tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the
atmosphere per annum.

Steps for improvement
The first step in achieving an energy
efficient heating system is to minimise
demand for heat. This can be achieved
by improving the insulation value of the
structure, which will inevitably reduce the
required heating load, thus allowing a
reduction in the size of the plant required to
heat the space.
Further improvements can be made by
introducing a well designed and correctly
installed heating and ventilation system into
the building, which will ensure the correct
temperature rises to match the design
criteria. Guidance can be sought on this
subject from numerous sources such as
building regulations approved documents
L1 and L2, which provide guidance upon the
minimum requirements of the regulations.
However, consideration should always
be paid to the burners and boilers used
within a heating system, as these have the
potential to significantly drive down energy
usage.

Burners and boilers
Significant focus has been placed upon
the emission of CO2 and other harmful
gases such as nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) into the atmosphere. The
aforementioned gases are the result of the
combustion process utilised to heat

24

Baltur TBG 45PV burner

buildings and the hot water which is needed
on a daily basis. The quantity of these, and
other gases, is dictated by how complete
the combustion process is and the method
in which the fuel has been burned off in the
first instance.
It can therefore be assumed that the
more efficient the combustion process the
fewer emissions should be introduced into
the atmosphere.

Burner matching
The first step in ensuring optimum
efficiency is the confirmation that the burner
is correctly matched up to the boiler/heat
exchanger. This will ensure that the burner
can provide an optimum turn down ratio,
which will keep burner cycling to a minimum
and will also ensure that there are no
excessive heat losses in the stack or
undesired condensing if the burner is
too small.

Inverter drive
The airflow of a typical blown burner is
usually regulated by the graduation of an
air shutter or damper via servomotors and
cams. The fact that the fan is running at a
constant speed inevitably incurs higher load

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

losses, which in turn dissipates some of the
electrical power generated by the fan motor.
The incorporation of an inverter drive
can vary the RPM of the fan in correlation
with the specific burner load, thus delivering
energy savings and reduced noise levels.
The below table indicates the energy
savings on a Baltur 450kW TBG 45PV by
fitting an inverter drive to the fan motor.

O2 Trim
The level of combustion efficiency can
be predicted by comparing the quantity of
O2 in the stack gases to that of theoretical
or stoichiometric combustion conditions
(assuming complete combustion). The lower
the amount of O2 (or excess air), the higher
the combustion efficiency.
Under normal operating conditions it
is typical that the combustion engineer will
set up the burner with a degree of excess air
to ensure that it will not become starved of
combustion air and begin to cause
incomplete combustion. Several factors
can affect the combustion process over time
such as:
•
Barometric conditions - atmospheric
temperature can affect the density
of air and have a bearing upon the
fuel/air mixture. Altitude can also alter

Boilers & Burners
the quantity of oxygen within the
combustion air
•
Calorific value - the calorific value of a
fuel can change from time to time and
as with the barometric conditions have
a bearing on the fuel /air ratio
•
Mechanical hysteresis - depending
upon the type of burner in question
it can be possible for the original
burner settings to drift away from
their original settings due to
continuous operation
It can be observed why it is necessary
to introduce more air than that which is
required for complete combustion but this
inevitably incurs a detrimental effect on
combustion efficiency.
As it is not cost effective to have
constant monitoring from an engineer, it
is now possible to incorporate a constant
monitoring system into the burner control.
O2 trim systems gather the amount of
oxygen present in the stack via a digital
or analogue feedback system and then
position the burner air damper to the
appropriate position to maintain a

consistent quantity of O2 throughout the full
operating range of the burner.
A good oxygen trim system will ‘learn’
during commissioning what the effect is
to the burner for every single trim that it
performs. This allows for full time oxygen
trim operation without the necessity of a full
time plant operator, irrespective of how the
plant conditions change.

CO trim
Although O2 trim technology can make
significant savings if applied correctly, it can
be further improved with the introduction of
CO trim. It should be noted that the sensors
employed in this application do not in fact
detect CO.
It is more reactive in detecting the other
elements produced when incomplete
combustion is present and is therefore
necessary to refer to the sensor as the COe
(carbon monoxide equivalent) sensor.
The COe sensor is identical to the O2
sensor apart from the fact that the
electro-chemical and catalytic properties

in the signal materials are different, thus
enabling combustible components such as
CO and Hydrogen (H2) to be detected.
In the event of incomplete combustion,
and in the presence of unburned
hydrocarbons, a non-Nernst voltage UCOe
also forms on the COe sensor and the
characteristics for both sensors alter and
relay a signal to the control module the
adjust the burner as necessary. This process
is identical if an excess of O2 in the
atmosphere exists.
Close to the emission edge, the
sensor signal for the COe electrode UCO/H2
increases at a disproportionate rate due to
the additional non-Nernst COe signal and
searches for the optimum working point of
the combustion, adjusting this and
optimising combustion further. This
procedure is repeated cyclically so that the
optimum working points are always
maintained even for unstable barometric
conditions, mechanical hysteresis or
fluctuating calorific values.

Going modular

I

dentifying simple, effective efficiency
improvements is top of every energy
manager’s list. Fortunately, when it
comes to heating, fully-modulating
condensing boilers are an
acknowledged ‘quick win’ to increased
thermal efficiency. James Porter, Sales
Director at Remeha, looks at how to achieve
maximum benefits from the humble boiler
Most organisations have been working
hard to reduce energy usage in recent years,
lowering energy costs and carbon emissions.
Yet according to the Carbon Trust, many still
stand to make year-on-year savings of
20-30% simply by implementing energy
efficiency measures. With heating
responsible for around half the energy use
in a building, it offers huge scope for
savings. And topping the list of ‘quick wins’
is the humble condensing boiler.
Condensing boilers offer the greatest
efficiencies of all boiler technologies –
capable of achieving an outstanding 99%
Gross Calorific Value. But as with all
technologies, good design is key to
achieving the maximum savings.
The first consideration is the sizing.
It’s important to carry out an accurate
assessment of the building’s current load
requirement as this may have changed over
time. And as the load will vary throughout
the year, this means calculating both the
minimum and peak requirements of the

building. The alternative is a system that
provides too much heat and unnecessarily
high bills.
In order to provide optimum comfort
for building’s occupants at all times, the
system needs to be able to adapt efficiently
to the fluctuating load. To maximise results,
look for fully-modulating condensing boilers
with internal controls that enable them to
match the system demand.
Next consider the design. Sharing the
load between multiple fully-modulating
boilers in modular configuration will allow
the boilers to operate more efficiently
and match the heat demand more closely,
reducing waste.
A simple, effective solution is to install
fully-modulating wall-hung boilers on
preconfigured cascade or rig units.
Connection to the existing system is quick
and easy, reducing on-site labour and
downtime to a minimum. Their small
footprint also offers greater design flexibility
to overcome any space constraints in the
plant room. And now, with the arrival of
compact wall-hung boilers offering outputs
as high as 160 kW, there is added
opportunity to move large outputs away
from the floor.
The third and crucial stage is to add
the appropriate control to ensure that the
modulating nature of condensing boilers
is used to full effect. Smart controls such

as weather compensation and sequential
controllers enable the boilers to operate
more effectively, reliably and efficiently. The
result? Lower operating bills and a reduced
carbon footprint.
The ‘hassle’ factor can deter many
organisations from making efficiency
improvements. Yet where heating is
concerned, well sized, designed and
controlled multiple condensing boilers
can transform the energy performance of
a building with zero disruption. It’s time to
go modular.
www.remeha.co.uk
boilers@remeha.co.uk
0118 978 3434

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

25

Boilers & Burners

Energys boiler management controls
boost Devon schools’ economy drive

F

rom low-consumption lighting
infrastructures to more acutely
optimised heating systems,
schools and colleges of higher
education throughout the UK
are beginning to reap the benefits of
technologies designed to boost operational
efficiencies and reduce energy bills.
A recent installation at two related
schools in Plymouth, Devon – namely Hyde
Park Juniors and Hyde Park Infants – is a
case-in-point. Occupying a site dating back
to the Victoria era, the schools have lately
been engaged in an economy drive that
has also included the specification of
solar panels and a change in energy
service provider.
During 2015 the schools’ attention was
drawn to the possible contribution to be
made by Energys’ boiler optimising
technology, which is able to improve the
efficiency of a boiler without affecting the
temperature of the building. As bursar Stella
Copping recalls: “Carl Challinor from the
Primary Association of Plymouth
Headteachers recommended Energys’
Dynamic Burner Management Units
(DBMUs) to our team, and it soon became
evident that this technology could play a
fundamental role in helping us to reduce
our energy consumption. The general ease
of installation was another factor that
made us keen to investigate an installation
of this kind.”
Implementation became even more
attractive when the schools were made
aware of a leasing arrangement to fund the
project, available through Utility Rentals Ltd.
This scheme enables educational
establishments, council premises and
Government departments to enjoy the
benefits of this technology without
incurring significant upfront costs.
“This scheme made it possible for us to

press ahead with a programme of work to
bring Energys DBMUs to a total of four
boilers on our site,” notes Ms Copping.

Minimum disruption
Regarding the operating principles
behind the DBMUs, Energys project and
operations director Gavin Skipsey explains
that they are “based on a technology that
optimises the firing pattern of a boiler
– thereby delivering gas/oil consumption
savings by extending the cooling curve. It
has also been shown to greatly reduce dry
cycling as a consequence.”

Payback in 2.5 years
In the case of the Hyde Park schools, it
is estimates that the project’s supply and
installation costs of £4400 will be recovered
in approximately 2.5 years. An annual
energy saving of 15% – equating to £1734
per year – is predicted, equating to a robust
yearly CO2 reduction of 9.45 tonnes.
“These forecasts are of course greatly
encouraging as we continue to develop a
programme that will reduce energy bills
and carbon consumption across the board.
This is very much an ongoing initiative for
us, and one that is highly important to
the future projection of the schools,”
remarks Copping.
But equally compelling in the
pre-installation period was the assurance
that Energys and Utility Rentals were able
to provide about the non-invasive nature of
the fit-out. The DBMUs can be installed in as
little as half-an-hour, and indeed the work
at the Hyde Park schoools was carried out
during the course of a single half-day.
“There was also the fact that the work
could be undertaken while the boilers were
live, so there was no need to take them

offline for a period,” notes Ms Copping.
“The result was an installation that entailed
no disruption in the short-term, but which
promises to deliver substantial benefits for
our schools over the long-run.”

‘Well worth investigating’
The fact that the energy saving forecasts
resulting from the DBMUs are so significant
is further magnified by the knowledge that
the schools’ boilers are actually relatively
contemporary in design. It therefore follows
that on premises with older, legacy systems,
the reductions in energy expenditure can
be even more dramatic – frequently as
high as 30%.
“Our experiences with the introduction
of this technology over the past six months
have been hugely positive, and I would
consider any school looking to minimise
their heating expenditure to investigate the
possibility of installing boiler optimisers,”
concludes Stella Copping. “And whereas
modifying or replacing some other systems
can be time-consuming and disruptive to
daily school life, this was about as easy an
upgrade project as you could imagine! I
would also highlight the high standard of
support offered throughout the project.”
Final word goes to Gavin Skipsey, who
remarks that the experience of the two
Plymouth schools is “by no means
uncommon as education providers become
more highly informed about the role of
boiler optimisation as part of a broader
commitment to reducing their energy bills
and carbon footprints.”
http://www.energysgroup.com/
technologies/boiler-controls
http://www.hydeparkjuniorschool.co.uk

ABB introduces new drive
for HVAC applications

T

he ABB HVAC drive, ACH580, is
designed specifically for a wide
range of HVAC applications. With
harmonic mitigation, an
intuitive operating panel and
native BACnet (and Modbus)
communications, the drive is suited for the
uninterrupted performance required of
mission-critical applications such as
hospitals and data centres, while achieving
the ambient comfort necessary for

26

maximum productivity in commercial
buildings, such as offices and schools.
The drive operates accurately with any
type of HVAC motor, including induction,
permanent magnet and synchronous
reluctance (SynRM) motors. It can also
be integrated with any major automation
system, communicates in familiar HVAC
languages, controls motors up to 250 kW
and is plug-in-ready to install.

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

A streamlined HVAC-specific menu
and control panel assistants allow quick
and easy commissioning. Industry needs
such as PID loop controllers and motor
heating capabilities are built-in, standard
features.
The prominent capabilities of the ABB
HVAC drive, ACH580, include:
•
Energy efficiency: The ACH580
has the highest efficiency class for a
drive - IE2. It also provides superior

HVAC

Wireless Energy Management for 30% Energy Savings

B

uilding operators are under
enormous financial pressure
when it comes to running their
properties. With fluctuations in
occupancy and increasing
energy costs, landlords are recognising the
environmental and financial benefits of
retrofitting their existing buildings to
improve energy efficiency and make
substantial savings. Today, self-powered
wireless systems are found in all kinds of
buildings in nearly all vertical markets and as
they are easy to retrofit and require minimal
maintenance, many building owners are
looking at this as a way to significantly
reduce energy consumption.
One example of a retrofit property is
the Aloha Surf Hotel in Hawaii. In January
2012, a self-powered key card-based energy
management system was installed, which
has achieved an impressive 45 percent
saving in energy for lighting and 50 percent
for the HVAC system. The combined KWh
savings conservatively amount to an
estimated $44,043 annually. The low
installation cost meant that the system
showed an ROI without rebate incentives
of 15.2 months.

Burden of batteries
Using wireless solutions that can be
flexibly placed eliminates the need to install
wiring and conduits and can be installed in
about the same time it takes to clean
a room. However, the system could
comprise hundreds to thousands of these
sensor devices all requiring power and
communication capability. Battery-powered
wireless devices can be costly and time
consuming as batteries last for only a
limited time and must be replaced regularly
and disposed of properly.

Self-powered systems
To solve these challenges, there are also
self-powered wireless systems on the

•

efficiency with all motor types. The
ACH580 drive and IE4 SynRM motor
package delivers the best
performance in the most energy
efficient manner available on the
market today. Energy savings are
calculated internally and can be sent
back to the BMS via fieldbus. The
drive also includes variable-speed
internal fans, further saving energy.
Simplicity: Simple out-of-the-box
commissioning via the new superior
keypad ensures simple set-up. All
essential hardware needs are
included such as IP55 and IP21
enclosures with the same footprint,
reducing installation space. The drive

market, which are found in many different
buildings today. An energy harvesting
wireless module gathers the power it needs
to operate from the surrounding
environment, including motion, light or
changes in temperature. This allows control
systems based on sensors and switches to
operate independent of an external power
supply such as wires or batteries. The
ambient energy obtained in this way is
sufficient to measure data and to send a
wireless signal as a command and
control message.

The key to energy management
Based on self-powered energy
harvesting technology, an intelligent HVAC
system can be realised by wirelessly
interconnecting automated thermostats,
window contacts, key cards, humidity
sensors, occupancy sensors and CO2
sensors. These are just a few examples of
the self-powered products in place, which
regulate climate control automatically.
At the heart of such a battery-less
wireless in-room energy management
solution could be the wireless key card.
Upon entering the room, the guest initiates
control of the lighting, HVAC system, and
television by simply inserting the key card
into the key card reader. The wireless signal
is powered by the movement of placing the
card into the reader. When guests leave and
remove the card, all room lighting is turned
off, the television is powered down and
the HVAC system is set back into “eco
saving” mode.

Aloha Surf Hotel rides on the
energy efficiency wave

of their green initiative, the hotel installed
self-powered key card switches in all 204
guestrooms. The team was able to complete
about 15 rooms per day, which meant little
to no disruption to daily hotel operations.
The installed energy management
solution utilises a key card switch to
automatically control both the HVAC and
the lighting in the guest’s room. When
guests enter their rooms, they place their
key card into the key card switch located
inside the room, thereby activating the
thermostat control unit, bringing it into
“occupied” mode. When the guest leaves
the room, the key card is removed from
the key card switch and both the
thermostat and the lights return to energy
saving mode. Most rooms also have a
battery-less, wireless balcony door sensor.
When the balcony door is opened, a signal
is sent to the in-room HVAC unit, which
switches off, until the balcony door is closed.

Benefits for both
Incorporating battery-less wireless
energy management solutions into
buildings can be accomplished without the
costs and burden of expensive, disruptive
installations. Wireless systems can be
deployed in rooms without needing to take
them out of commission during installation.
All rooms can be pre-configured and fully
programmed so that they are ready for
easy installation.
The main driver for the implementation
of such an energy management solution
is economic. Buildings that incorporate
HVAC control can expect energy savings of
between 20 and 40 percent, which typically
represents simple paybacks of less than
three years.

The Aloha Surf Hotel in Waikiki, part of
Hawaii’s first boutique hotel chain, Aqua
Hotels & Resorts, uses a battery-less
wireless automation system to substantially
reduce its energy consumption. As part

•

can also be supplied with an IP55W
(weatherproof) enclosure, suitable for
outdoor mounting. The drive comes
complete with a rear back plate
ensuring it can be mounted in “free
space” as well as onto a flat surface.
Reliability: The ACH580 provides
up-to-date and accurate system
efficiency information, monitoring
how much energy has been saved,
and providing advanced notice of
possible maintenance needs for the
drive or the driven load. State-ofthe-art accelerated life testing during
development and 100 percent testing
on real motors in production ensure
reliable product at point of delivery.

By Graham Martin, Chairman of the
EnOcean Alliance

•

Easy integration:
Embedded HVAC
communications allow
users to control
applications, report
findings and perform
diagnostics natively
through embedded
BACnet MS/TP and
HVAC protocols.
BACnet IP over
EtherNet can also
be incorporated as
an option.

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

27

HVAC

HARNESS CENTRALISED AND
LOCALISED HEATING CONTROL FOR
MAXIMUM ENERGY EFFICIENCY

B

uilding management systems
(BMS) drive down energy
consumption by improving
centralised control of heating,
cooling and ventilation. If you
combine this centralised management of
heating with enhanced localised control of
radiators, however, it is possible to make
significant additional energy savings,
typically in the region of 30%.
This is made possible by tailoring supply
of heating more closely to actual demand.
HVAC systems are designed around
theoretical loads but, once the building is in
use, actual demand is unlikely to conform
exactly to anticipated operating conditions.
It is common, for example, for the entire
building to be heated even though some
zones are currently unoccupied. The way in
which we use buildings is not uniform.
Student accommodation blocks and
university libraries with 24 hour access, for
example, are supplied with heating and hot
water, irrespective of how many students
are in situ at any one time.
These unpredictable variations in
occupancy levels have a significant impact
on the HVAC system’s energy efficiency
performance. If the building has a BMS it
may be possible to adapt to certain
circumstances using timed switching on and
off of radiators on a zone-by-zone basis.
In order to match demand closely to
supply however, it is necessary to have
localised control on a room-by-room,
radiator-by-radiator level. Drilling down to
this level of fine detail via centralised control
has traditionally involved unacceptably
expensive or complex bespoke
programming. With the latest generation
of smart radiator valves, however, there is

an extremely effective alternative, which
provides self-contained localised control
of radiators.
Smart radiator valves enable individual
radiators to be set to operate timed
programmes at specific temperatures or
(in the case of those with occupancy
sensing capability) can adjust temperatures
automatically in line with changing
requirements. For example, in an office
block that is expected to be unoccupied
in the evening, smart valves enable the
majority of radiators to be set to switch off
at 5pm, whilst radiators serving an out of
hours call centre in one part of the premises
remain on. Some of the latest smart radiator
valve models also incorporate Passive Active
Infra Red occupancy sensing technology,
alongside the timer, making it possible to
reduce heating automatically when areas
become unoccupied. Capable of sensing
when rooms are empty, these valves reduce
temperature automatically (in line with the
pre-programmed parameters) to improve
energy savings significantly in areas with
intermittent or variable use. A manual boost
button enables the occupant to increase
temperature, if required.
Reduction of temperature at radiator
level signals to the central plant that supply
to the space needs to be reduced. Where
the central plant room has variable speed
capability and BMS, this reduces loading
on energy consuming equipment such as
pumps, boilers, chillers and air handling
units. The heating of empty rooms can be
avoided, making significant energy cost
savings and improving environmental
performance. More accurate temperature
control provides more consistent heating
and prevents overheating. In buildings

without BMS, the ‘vicious circle’ of heating
and cooling components of the system
working in opposition can be broken.
Approaching the problem on a radiator by
radiator, room-by-room basis in this way
also has the advantage of offering a retrofit
solution, which can be phased-in for
incremental improvement over time if
required, safeguarding return on investment
of the installed boilers and other heating
and hot water plant.

Smart radiator valves deliver 30%
savings at London University
A leading London university installed
smart radiator valves to replace traditional
TRVs in the corridors and kitchens of its halls
of residence. Smart radiator valves were
also installed in the bedrooms, but these
models also incorporate occupancy sensing
technology. If a bedroom is unoccupied for
longer that one hour, the smart radiator
valve decreases radiator temperatures to a
lower setting (16°C). A Sleep facility provides
the option to reduce heating further during
longer periods of vacancy. For example, the
heating can be set to switch off 24 hours
after a student leaves their room, making
savings when they are away over weekends
or holidays.
By matching demand more closely to
actual occupancy levels the university has
achieved energy savings of 30%.
Temperature reduction in unoccupied
rooms is identified by the university’s BMS
which, in turn, reduces loading on variable
speed pumps and boilers, saving energy
across the system. Complex scheduling is
avoided and, as this particular model has a
weekly valve exercise feature which prevents
valves from ‘sticking’ over the summer
period, maintenance requirements are
also reduced.
Combining centralised BMS with
localised radiator control provides a highly
effective solution, preventing the needless
heating of empty rooms. It is also useful to
remember that, in addition to being
installed alongside new HVAC systems,
smart radiator valves are also completely
retrofittable. This means that energy savings
can be achieved as part of a routine
maintenance programme, without having
to wait until the entire HVAC system
is replaced.
By Steven Henry, managing director of
Chalmor

28

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

info@chalmor.co.uk www.chalmor.co.uk

Monitoring/Metering

Monitor energy
usage to optimise
plant efficiency

T

here’s an adage that you can’t
manage what you don’t measure,
and to fully understand and
optimise the overall energy
consumption within a
manufacturing plant you first have to be
able to monitor your energy usage. Dan
Rossek argues that end users need to take a
holistic approach to energy management.
When EU-wide climate and energy
targets where set in 2007 and enacted in
legislation in 2009, they set the goal of
reducing green house gas emissions by
20%, improving energy efficiency by 20%
and sourcing 20% of energy from
renewables, all by 2020. This legislation
became the basis for various schemes
implemented at national levels, with
different governments using their own
incentives and penalties.
Cutting greenhouse gases has been a
major focus for businesses large and small,
with the heavy industrials in particular
challenged by demanding emissions
caps, and required to buy and sell
allowances through emissions trading
schemes. Over the years the caps have been
steadily reduced, bringing greater numbers
of manufacturing and processing companies
within the scope of the scheme, and driving
the need for continuous improvement to
reduce carbon emissions.
Hand in hand with this has come a
steady increase in energy costs, delivering
further incentives for businesses to get their
energy usage under tighter control.
But minimising carbon footprint isn’t
just about costs, taxes and penalties. More
and more business is being done today on
the basis of having a sound environmental
policy and a commitment to minimising
nvironmental impact. Being able to
demonstrate environmental responsibility
internally within the business and externally
throughout the logistics chain forms the
basis of internationally recognised standards
such as ISO 50001, and many companies
are finding such policies can give them a
genuine competitive advantage.
All of this has seen energy management
become a prime concern within businesses
large and small, with many implementing
a dedicated energy manager role within
the company to develop policy and deliver
ongoing improvements. But what exactly are
the practical steps that manufacturing and
processing companies can take to raise their
energy efficiency?

30

In many cases this will start with an
energy audit of the plant and processes. But
this entails more than looking around the
shop floor for obvious energy saving
opportunities, such as turning off the
heating and lighting when the plant is
running un-manned processes, or ensuring
equipment isn’t running if it doesn’t need
to be. At the same time, while installing
variable speed drives, for example, can help
to reduce energy consumption from
motors and compressors, this can’t be the
end of the story. Deriving the maximum
value from these energy saving measures,
and uncovering others to implement,
depends on effective monitoring of a whole
range of electrical loads, energy supplies
(regenerative braking, for example)
and other energy consumers, such as
compressed air and pneumatic systems.
It pays to take a holistic approach to
energy management, employing a range
of technologies and techniques not only to
identify areas for improvements in energy
efficiency, but subsequently to carry on
monitoring to see what real, measurable
savings have been made. Taking this
approach to energy management is the
real key not only to identifying the real
costs of energy associated with production
operations but also then to optimising those
processes – making each of them more
energy efficient but also identifying and
ironing out peaks in energy demand. What
are the impacts of production bottlenecks?
Are peaks in customer demand being
managed smoothly or are there
corresponding peaks in production that are
using excess energy? Could energy intensive
processes be staggered rather than running
in parallel? Only with complete transparency
of energy data, tied in with actual
productivity, can costs per part be optimised
in relation to energy usage.
To be of use by the energy management
personnel, both real time and historical
energy consumption data has to be
available to higher level business systems.
Today’s Ethernet-based network
technologies make it easy to transfer data
from the plant floor into these higher level
visualisation systems. But how and where is
the data collected?
One solution for energy monitoring on
the plant floor might comprise a full suite
of components that can be retrofitted to
existing production lines and processes as
readily as they can be designed into new

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

ones. Such
products could be
Dan Rossek is with
used to monitor
Omron in the UK
electrical and all
other forms of
energy, focusing on areas such as
temperature, motion, heat and compressed
air as well as electricity.
Multi-circuit smart power monitors can
help pin-point all unnecessary energy usage.
With or without inbuilt displays, these
devices measure produced and consumed
power, current, voltage, leading reactive
power, lagging reactive power, power factor
and frequency, as well as non-electric
parameters. Combined with appropriate
software, users have the ability to freely
collect data, display it directly on a PC and
perform trend analysis of instantaneous
values, complete with graphs of energy
and other data. Multi-circuit smart power
monitors are able to monitor more lines
with fewer devices with increased
measuring accuracy.
Invisible air flow from compressed air
systems within plants can also represent
significant energy wastage, and so the
complete energy monitoring range should
also include air flow sensors, helping to
identify air leakage, excessive air usage or
too much pressure. So long as these offer
a wide measurement range, these products
are able to measure compressed air at the
line level or at the machine level, detecting
leakage while measuring pressure and flow.
And then there is the portable energy
flow monitor that can monitor energy flow
data for a variety of machines and panels,
giving a local display as well as integrating
with a wider LAN where required, or logging
energy, power, power factor and pulse sum
data to an SD card.
There are many examples around the
world where these technologies are helping
companies to save energy, reduce emissions
and minimise their carbon footprint, so
helping to drive cost savings as well as
demonstrating environmental responsibility.
There are huge gains to be made by taking
a holistic approach to energy management,
focusing on real time measurement and
ongoing improvement. Energy monitoring
not only helps end users to identify
immediate areas for improvement, but then
to carry on monitoring to show the real
benefits of any changes made and to
uncover further areas that will continue to
deliver incremental gains in efficiency.

vergrowing legislations such
as the Carbon Reduction
Commitment (CRC) tax and EU
Emissions Trading Scheme along
with financial impact on utilities it
is inevitable and presents an opportunity for
organisations like the NHS to reduce their
buildings energy consumption.

Addressing the basics
As part of the Trust’s Carbon
Management Plan which is an integral part
of Sustainability Management Plan, it is
understood that it is fundamental to know
the buildings energy consumption by type,
by seasonal patterns, the high/low demand
periods to engage buildings maintenance
contractors by bringing the energy
consumption of the buildings into a clear
and instant visibility.
The Sustainability team invested and
installed ecoDriver online Real-time energy
monitoring solution to monitor energy
consumption LIVE by meter type “at any
time and from anywhere” of their
Queen’s Hospital and King George’s
Hospital buildings.

Quick-wins and motivation
This resulted in bringing the
anomalies in energy consumption
especially, during out-of-hours and
holiday periods into visibility.
Following queries and investigations
immediate and appropriate actions were
taken to avoid wastage. The live data and its
reporting tool helped the team to identify
more opportunities, plan in advance for
weekends, Bank Holidays, X-Mas and New
Year switch-offs.
Such actions resulted in immediate
savings. So far the Trust, with low/no cost
initiatives saved approx. £240k in the past
three years.

Getting out more
Realising the immediate positive
engagement with the buildings maintenance
contractors and staff, the Trust expanded
this real-time monitoring system with alert
notifications to other meters for example
CHP, LV switchboards, boilers and individual
departments.
The team has taken a progressive
approach in its expansion by engaging

occupants and taking financial, energy,
carbon savings factors into account.
The charts below show the difference
in consumption patterns before and after
taking actions at their largest site, Queen’s
Hospital in Romford.

Finding more solutions for less
The Trust’s Sustainability team view is in
the present financial climate it is difficult to
fund a complete monitoring & targeting
solution using multiple sub meters,
especially for PFI managed sites.
Our approach therefore is to start with
monitoring & targeting using mainly,
existing fiscal meters then building upon
it by taking a progressive approach.
During this process it is also helping to build
relationships with the contractors
and occupants to bring both carbon and
costs savings.
If not noticed, savings missed are
missed forever, so an instant monitoring
system is a key to engage contractors by
bringing it into a clear visibility to take
appropriate actions.
The team has now plans to expand
this tool to water management, waste and
recycling, monitoring, verification and
evaluation of a specific energy savings
project to engage stakeholders. It is also
useful in validating invoices, budgeting
and EU ETS Audit compliance. The Trust
also uses to engage their staff and produce
recharges for their tenants.
“the tool is simple to understand, and
it has helped to bring the energy
consumption patterns into a clear visibility
– which prompted many questions and
helped us identify opportunities”.
Sustainability.BHRUT@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk
http://www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/
sustainability

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

31

Exhibition News

Carlo Gavazzi presents a
full Energy Management and
Building Automation solution
at 2016 Energy Event

E

nergy management specialist,
Carlo Gavazzi will be returning
to this year’s Energy Event at the
NEC, Birmingham on 13th – 14th
September - the UK’s leading
event for energy and utilities procurement
professionals. Discover the reasons why
Carlo Gavazzi boasts one of the largest
energy management and building
automation ranges in the UK on Stand
No. A20.

Energy Metering Range
Highlights include the EM100 and
EM300 Series with touchscreen technology,
making standard user operations such as
page scrolling, programming and parameter
checks not only simpler but faster; as well
as easy to read; it avoids any mechanical
issues normally associated with using
traditional keypads.
Whether you need the EM100 single
phase energy meter direct connect up
to 45A with pulse output, EM111 45A or
EM112 100A direct connect with Pulse,
Modbus or M-Bus options or the new
EM340 65A direct connect 3 phase energy
meter also with various outputs, imported
exported energy and tariff management
(also on the EM111 & EM112), we will
have a meter that has outstanding ease
of use and performance that provides a
perfect solution.
Also on show will be established meters
such as the popular EM200 series with its
unique detachable display and the popular
EM24 three phase energy analyser capable
of measuring traditional active reactive
energy metering with cost allocation, the
product is also able to accept pulse inputs
for gas, water, and other pulse variables
presenting the information on to the
attached network will also be on display.

VMU-C EM for monitoring small or single
site installations of up to 32 meters,
VMU-Y EM provides all of the benefits of a
multi-site solution without ongoing costs
and effectively allows you to monitor up
to 320 meters whilst accessing the
information from any PC using a standard
web browser. We can also accommodate
the larger multisite installation monitoring
up to 3200 energy meters located anywhere
in the world.
This software makes single or multi-site
energy metering easier and more cost
effective as it doesn’t require a license fee
and brings closer integration with Building
Management Systems.

Building Automation
The Dupline® two-wire bus technology
significantly simplifies the field level wiring,
eliminates expensive wiring home runs and
saves money on installation costs when
compared with traditional device-to-DDC
solutions. Furthermore, the significant
installation cost reduction is achieved
without increasing material cost due to the
reduced need for DDC inputs and outputs
(I/Os) and standard sensors.
Two-wire bus systems reduce

Energy Metering Software
Supporting the extensive meter range
is the latest cloud based energy platform
which offers multiple software solutions
from a simple web based system

32

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

commissioning time and offer the
possibility to integrate HVAC and lighting
controls, for example, at the field level –
one network, two solutions. Systems are
based on bus-powered sensors and small
I/O modules. The cost savings of such a
decentralised I/O solution can be
considerable.
So whatever your need, experts will be
available to give free advice on any aspect
of energy metering, MID and cost allocation
applications as well as, the once separated
market of building automation. The team
will demonstrate the benefits of the
company’s extensive portfolio of energy
meters, energy management software and
building automation. So, if you have a
specific project in mind that needs a rapid
and cost effective install that encourages
optimisation of energy consumption or may
be looking for answers on how to manage
their buildings efficiently, cut consumption
and lower fuel bills we can show you
a solution.
For more information regarding Carlo
Gavazzi and its range of products, please
visit the website: www.carlogavazzi.co.uk

n a sector marked by volatile pricing,
changing regulatory frameworks and
increasing financial and security risk, it
is necessary for the industry to come
together to safeguard and ensure the
future of energy resource efficiency, says
Nicola Meadows, event director –
Environment, i2i Events Group.
Organised in partnership with key
associations such as, the Major Energy
Users Council, Energy Institute and Energy
Services & Technology Association, the
Energy Event 2016 at the NEC, Birmingham,
on 13th -14th September is a ‘must attend’
exhibition and conference. Not only is this
an event for major energy users, it is also a
key date in the calendar for decision makers
as they grapple with energy supply, energy
security and energy management concerns.
The event is a key place for visitors to
understand the latest policies, compliance
requirements and find the latest
technologies to drive a reduction in energy
costs and improve their sustainability
performance. Building on last year’s success,
the Energy Event provides key opportunities

for networking and professional
development.
Apart from policy changes, there are
also a number of issues which seem to be
challenging the sector, including energy
security which remains a thorny issue for UK
businesses. With an early capacity auction
anticipated in the winter of 2017/18, and
energy suppliers not being allowed to delay
payments, businesses could face higher than
anticipated energy bills next year. But what
will the implications be for your business?
The Energy Event will be tackling these
key topics, as well as the changes to energy
policy, the advancement of half-hourly
usage (P272) and demand-side response
(DSR). The exhibition aims to provide visitors
with solutions to the challenges that are
facing their business, making it a one-stop
shop for all of the industry’s needs.
The show has two content hubs, Energy
Leaders Theatre and the Energy Information
Theatre. Key discussions from Keith Brierley,
Environment and Business - Senior Advisor,
Environment Agency, Maria Spyrou, Energy
Efficiency Programme Manager, Marks and

Spencer and Charlotte Calloway, Energy &
Environment Analyst, Whitbread are just a
small sample of the speakers at this year’s
show. In addition, a keynote speaker from
National Grid, Paul Lowbridge, will
participate in a panel discussing –
demand-side response, could capitalising on
energy opportunities be the answer to the
energy trilemma. A full speakers program is
due to be released shortly.

Looking to the future
The Energy Event organisers are also on
the lookout for tomorrow’s energy
managers and have launched a national
search to find the industry’s ‘Rising Stars’.
The competition celebrates trailblazing
initiatives that challenge the way resource
management works and inspire a new
generation of efficiency managers.
For more information, visit
www.rwmexhibition.com/content/
Are-you-the-next-rising-star-in-resourcemanagement

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

33

Procurement

PLACE IN THE SUN

– LOWERING THE CARBON
FOOTPRINT OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR

P

ublic authorities have a great
responsibility in adopting
environmentally friendly
measures and contributing
towards a green economy. A
Government pledge to spend millions on
a national energy efficiency programme¹,
including solar installations, targeting public
sector buildings over the next five years
also underlines the importance of this
commitment.
Reducing energy bills is also paramount
and so against a backdrop of energy
efficiency and cost efficiency requirements
an increasing number of public authorities
are choosing microgeneration technology
to generate an energy supply. Not only does
it reduce energy costs but it also
helps authorities meet stringent carbon
emissions legislation.
Gillian Askew, Head of Procurement,
commented: “YPO’s specialist procurement
framework recognises the financial and
environmental importance of renewable
technology for public authorities and
provides a compliant route to market for the
design, supply, installation, commissioning
and maintenance of micro-generation scale
photovoltaic systems.
With energy taxes constantly increasing
and uncertainty in the commodity market,
more and more public authorities are
looking at micro-generation as a way to
cut bills and be environmentally friendly.
The technology is also getting cheaper and
more efficient, so it makes sense to give it
serious consideration.”
It is estimated that 445g of carbon
dioxide is saved from each kwh of solar
energy used and those authorities that fall
under the Carbon Reduction Commitment, a
mandatory carbon emissions reporting and
pricing scheme, will realise savings from a
lower carbon allowance. Authorities can also
benefit from various funding mechanisms
including capital expenditure, grant or loan
funding, and Energy Efficient Finance.
The Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme,
introduced in April 2010, also means that
authorities are paid for the electricity they
generate, regardless of whether they use
it or send it to the grid. Photovoltaic solar
panels are eligible for feed-in tariffs, which
are guaranteed for 25 years.

34

Gillian Askew commented: “All
suppliers on our framework are accredited
with the Micro-generation Certification
Scheme which is an independent scheme
supported by the Department of Energy and
Climate Change (DECC). Using accredited
suppliers is necessary to receive payment for
the electricity the authority generates.
“For those authorities considering
whether to opt for micro-generation it’s
worth considering that the Carbon
Reduction Commitment scheme ends in
2019 at which point Climate Change Levies,
a tax on energy usage, will ramp up.”
YPO details some of the benefits and
potential impacts of choosing photovoltaic
systems:
•
Versatile technology. It can be used in
urban or rural areas on roofs, facades
or the ground.
•
Low maintenance
•
Electricity generated by solar
installations receives subsidies from
the feed-in tariffs.
•
When generation exceeds demand,
the excess may be exported to the
electricity network, earning revenue.
•
Reduces energy bills.
•
Environmental benefits to help meet
emissions targets.
•
Zero emissions in operation, no noise,
produces no waste.
•
Building mounted systems take no
additional land and may not compete
with other uses.

Energy Manager Magazine • July/August 2016

•

Ground mounted systems can make
use of unused space, such as
embankments, vacant plots or
agricultural land.
One of the public sector bodies that
YPO has recently supported through the
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) system
includes Kent Police. Kent Police was keen
on procuring solar photovoltaic panels in a
quick, efficient and compliant manner. The
authority approached YPO for a sustainable
solution and have since then managed to
save both administrative time and funds as
a result of the procurement process.
Pauline Dines, Head of Estates
Programme Delivery, Estate Services
Department for Essex and Kent Police, said:
“YPO was highly responsive and addressed
our challenges very efficiently, allowing
us to work swiftly to obtain tenders and
achieve project completion to meet with
the Feed-in Tariff (FIT). YPO’s energy team
were extremely supportive, and enabled
us to prepare and complete documents
quickly. Their approach was tailored to our
specific needs and therefore, their solution
has really helped us achieve some of our
key objectives. YPO offered us real
procurement expertise at a time when we
needed it the most.”
For more information about
the framework please go to
http://www.ypo.co.uk/contracts-home

Water Management

Competition countdown – be prepared

T

he countdown is on to the
opening of the non-household
water market in England. Business
Stream, one of the UK’s
leading suppliers of water and
waste water services has a wealth of
experience helping businesses get the best
from their provider. In fact no one is better
placed to ensure you can enjoy all the
benefits of competition next year.
From April all businesses and
organisations in England will be able to
choose their water and waste water
supplier. Competition has the potential to
offer customers a wide range of
opportunities including improved
customer service, efficiency savings and
environmental benefits.
In Scotland, where the market has been
open to competition since 2008, Business
Stream’s record speaks for itself. Over the
last eight years, our customers have
benefited from more than £133 million in
savings. At the same time they’ve saved
more than 24 billion litres of water and
42,000 tonnes of carbon – the equivalent to
taking 11,700 cars off the roads.

Our step-by-step guide will help you prepare for
the opening of the English retail water market.
Are you ready to enjoy all the benefits?

UNDERSTAND
YOUR CURRENT
WATER USE

Find out your water usage / wastewater
production and how much it is costing

2

Consider what you’d want from a
supplier once the market opens

BE
FULLY
COMPLIANT

Make sure you’re aware of your trade effluent
arrangements and consents, if applicable.

4

?

CONSIDER
YOUR
OPTIONS

Speak to suppliers early in the process
and consider your purchasing process.

5

Making changes to an organisation’s
water and wastewater management takes
time and effort. Many companies
understand the value in this investment but
others may welcome help to decide the best
approach. To take full advantage of the new
water market in England, Business Stream
has compiled a Switch Fit Guide.
Our easy to follow, five point guide
explains how you can make the right
choice for your business when competition
begins next year. Don’t delay – it’s time to
think about this now to make sure you
make an informed decision on your future
water provision.

Assess your current water use

Plan ahead

PLAN
AHEAD

3

Are you ready to make the most
from the potential benefits?

The first step is to understand your
current water usage. Whether you have
multiple sites or a single site, study
previous bills and note your spend and
usage per site. Once all of this data is
collated, Business Stream can undertake a
review to identify a range of opportunities
to minimise water usage such as installing
water saving devices, rainwater harvesting
or water recycling. We recognise that one
size doesn’t necessarily fit all so we can
prepare a bespoke solution precisely
tailored to your needs.

GET SWITCH FIT

1

Now as competition approaches in the
English market, customers south of the
border can look forward to a similar array of
opportunities and are rightly beginning to
view water as a business-critical issue.

CONTACT
US!

Get in touch with Business
Stream on 0131 338 3266 or
email BusinessDevelopment
@business-stream.co.uk

?

Don’t forget to plan ahead when
considering what is right for your business.
Are there any changes planned that could
affect how much water your business uses
in future? Perhaps you have plans to open
some new sites, upgrade equipment or
make changes to your production process.
Anything which could impact on your usage
needs careful consideration, so you can
incorporate water into your overall utilities
strategy. If you’re unsure how changes like
this could impact your water bills, speak
to someone at Business Stream. We’re here
to help.

If so, then making sure that you’re
complying with waste legislation and have
the required trade effluent consents is vital.
It’s important to understand exactly what
you’re producing in terms of effluent to
avoid any fines or reputational damage.
Consider what options prospective suppliers
offer in this area when making your decision
- can they meet your practical needs
effectively? Check to make sure they have
the skills and expertise to handle your
needs. Business Stream has a specialist team
who can assist with any issues you may have.

Consider exactly what you want
and need
Once you’ve followed the above steps
then it’s time to start considering
what you want from a supplier and plan
your purchasing process. To help ensure
that you make an informed choice, start
talking to potential suppliers. Are they easy
to do business with? Make sure you feel
confident in understanding what they can
offer based on your requirements. Do they
offer a wide range of value-added services?
It’s also worth remembering to check when
comparing services between providers – are
you reviewing like for like? It’s really
important that you find the right partner.

Ask the experts at Business
Stream
Finally, speak to the experts. No matter
how simple or complex your water needs
are, we have the right solution for you. It
may be a new market for England, but it’s
not new for us. With our considerable
experience across the UK, we have the
knowledge and experience of working with
companies and organisations of all types
and sizes. If you need advice on
understanding your water usage, trade
effluent consents or are simply looking
for innovative ways to save water and
money – speak to the established water
experts. Even if you decide to stay with your
current supplier, Business Stream
can provide independent analysis and
advice to help guide you towards the best
solution possible.
To find out how your organisation can
take full advantage of the forthcoming
market competition, contact
Business Stream at
BusinessDevelopment@
business-stream.co.uk or on
0131 338 3266

Energy Manager Magazine • July/august 2016

35

Closing the gap between
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